ClutchBasket:Basketball News

 

CHRIS PAUL FAMILY FOUNDATION AND NAISMITH BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCE PRESENTING SPONSOR FOR TOYOTA HBCU CLASSIC

SPRINGFIELD, MASS. (December 18, 2024) – The Chris Paul Family Foundation and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame have announced Walmart will serve as the presenting sponsor for the Toyota Chris Paul HBCU Classic, set to take place this week, December 19-20, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. 

Announced in May, the new format of the Toyota Chris Paul HBCU Classic, presented by Walmart unites the HBCU Tip-Off and Challenge under one roof at the Mohegan Sun. This collaboration provides an opportunity for both the Chris Paul Family Foundation and the Basketball Hall of Fame organizations to honor and highlight the rich heritage of HBCU athletics, with Toyota and Walmart playing key roles in elevating the experience for both athletes and attendees.

“HBCU Sports continue to thrive and I'm excited about the growth of the game of basketball through our HBCU Classic,” said Chris Paul.

Toyota Chris Paul HBCU Classic bracket information:

BRACKET 1

Thursday, December 19

12:00 PM ET – Benedict College vs. Lincoln, PA (ESPN+)

2:30 PM ET – Winston Salem State vs. Kentucky State (ESPN+)

Friday, December 20

11:00 AM ET – Consolation (ESPN+)

1:30 PM ET – Championship (ESPN+)

BRACKET 2

Thursday, December 19

5:00 PM ET – Norfolk State vs. Alabama State (ESPNU)

7:30 PM ET – Delaware State vs. Grambling (ESPNU)

Friday, December 20

4:00 PM ET – Norfolk State vs. Grambling (ESPNU)

6:30 PM ET – Delaware State vs. Alabama State (ESPNU)

Tickets for the 2024 Toyota Chris Paul HBCU Classic, presented by Walmart, are on sale now via Ticketmaster and at the Mohegan Sun Arena Box Office. 

For more details, please visit hoophall.com. 

About Chris Paul

Affectionately known as the Point God, Chris Paul is a 12-time NBA All-Star and two-time Olympic Gold medalist. He was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team as one of the 75 greatest players in NBA history. In 2021, Paul became the first player in league history to record 20,000 points and 10,000 assists in their career. He ranks third on the NBA all-time career assists list. Paul is entering his 20th season in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs and has previously played with the Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, and New Orleans Hornets. Paul attended Wake Forest University and was selected 4th in the 2005 NBA Draft. He completed his degree in 2022 from HBCU Winston-Salem State University.

 

Off the court, he’s a father, husband, entrepreneur, activist, author, and philanthropist. His recent New York Times best-selling memoir, Sixty-One: Life Lessons from Papa, On and Off the Court, is a powerful and unexpected memoir of family, faith, tragedy, and life's most important lessons.

 

He served as the former President of the National Basketball Players Association from 2013 until 2021. His production company, Ohh Dip!!! Productions, creates content across multiple platforms and  has produced three docuseries with ESPN on HBCU culture with NC Central Mens Basketball, HBCU Football (FAMU) and HBCU Dance Southern Univ Dancing Dolls and Grambling University band. 

 

Paul's business footprint is diverse, with a portfolio that includes minority ownership of the Indian Premier League's Rajasthan Royals and the Winston-Salem Dash in his home state of North Carolina, as well as ownership of the CP3 Basketball Academy. His Team CP3 AAU teams currently has 14 players in the NBA. Notable long-standing brand partnerships include State Farm and Jordan Brand and he founded a plant-based healthy snack brand, Good Eat’n.  

FIBA 3x3 Women’s Basketball Series 2025 and 2026 to be broadcast globally on All Women's Sports Network

DECEMBER 18, 2024 FIBA is delighted to announce it has partnered with the All Women’s Sports Network (AWSN), the first global women's sports channel, to broadcast the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series 2025 and 2026 live to audiences around the world. The Women's Series is FIBA 3x3's premier competition dedicated to the world's best female basketball players, with each team representing a National Federation or a commercial team. The global partnership will see the fast-paced action of the next two seasons of the Women’s Series broadcast live and on delay across the USA, Mexico, India, Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The channel will also be live on AWSN’s carrier partners, including the USA, India, UAE, and the Philippines. AWSN was founded by EGOT-winning actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg and George Chung, CEO of JungoTV. The network launched in the U.S., India, UAE/Dubai, and the Philippines in November, with more platform partners announced in 2025. The FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series will join some of the world’s biggest sports leagues featured on the network, from the Australian Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) to WTA 125 and the UEFA Women's Nations League. Women in basketball is a key FIBA Strategic Priority and was launched in 2019 and extended to 2027 with six specific goals developed to drive greater participation, representation and impact across every level of the women’s game.  Speaking about the partnership, Alex Sanchez, Managing Director of FIBA 3x3 said: “We are delighted to partner with AWSN and further expand the global reach of the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series. The Women’s Series has grown dramatically in popularity in recent years and the AWSN will provide a fantastic platform for our ever-growing global audience to engage with the discipline and our incredible players. At FIBA we are aligned with the AWSN’s mission to promote and celebrate women’s sport and we are excited for what we are sure will be the start of a fruitful partnership.” The All Women’s Sports Network CEO George Chung said, “We’re excited to bring the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Basketball Series to our global audiences and to be a long-term partner with FIBA. The popularity of women’s basketball is front and center with fans and brands, and FIBA’s 3x3 Women’s Series is one of the sport's most competitive and recognized global leagues.” The Women’s Series 2024 achieved record-breaking engagement underscoring the rapid growth in popularity of the series. Culminating in Hangzhou, China on 7-8 September 2024, the Series earned 50 million impressions across its digital platforms, 51% more than the previous year and recorded 41 million views, up 64% from 2023. By partnering with AWSN, the 2025 and 2026 seasons are expected to reach and engage an even greater audience. NBA AND NBPA ANNOUNCE NEW FORMAT FOR 2025 NBA ALL-STAR GAME   – Mini-Tournament Features Four Teams and Three Games –   – Three Teams of NBA All-Star Selections Joined by Castrol Rising Stars Champion –    – TNT’s Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith Draft Rosters of Non-Rising Stars Teams –   – NBA All-Star Voting Presented by AT&T Tips Off Thursday, Dec. 19 –   NEW YORK, Dec. 17, 2024 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Basketball Players Association announced today a new format for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game in the San Francisco Bay Area.  The reimagined event will take place on Sunday, Feb. 16 at Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors, and air at 8 p.m. ET on TNT.   For the first time, the NBA All-Star Game will feature a mini-tournament with four teams and three games.  Two teams will meet in one semifinal (Game 1), and the remaining two teams will meet in the other semifinal (Game 2).  The winning teams from Game 1 and Game 2 will advance to face each other in the championship (Game 3).  For each game, the winner will be the first team to reach or surpass 40 points.   Each team will have eight players and be named for a TNT NBA analyst.  The 24 NBA All-Star selections will be divided evenly into three teams, with the rosters drafted by TNT’s Inside the NBA commentators and honorary team general managers Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith.  The three analysts will make their respective picks for Team Chuck, Team Shaq and Team Kenny live on TNT in the NBA All-Star Draft, which will be conducted on Thursday, Feb. 6 just before the network’s doubleheader that night.    The fourth team will be the winning team from the championship game of the Castrol Rising Stars, the annual showcase of top first- and second-year NBA players and NBA G League standouts, which will be played on Friday, Feb. 14 during NBA All-Star 2025.  TNT analyst and WNBA legend Candace Parker will serve as honorary GM of the Castrol Rising Stars champion, known as Team Candace.     The voting process to determine the 24 NBA All-Stars will remain the same.  The five players honored as starters in each conference will be selected by fans (50% of the vote), current NBA players (25%) and a media panel (25%).  The seven players honored as reserves in each conference will be selected by NBA head coaches.  See below for more information about NBA All-Star voting.    The four NBA All-Star Game head coaches will come from the coaching staffs of the teams with the best regular-season record in each conference through games played on Sunday, Feb. 2.  The head coach of the leading Eastern Conference team and the head coach of the leading Western Conference team will each coach an NBA All-Star team.  An assistant coach from one of those staffs will serve as head coach of the Castrol Rising Stars champion, and an assistant coach from the other staff will coach the remaining All-Star team.    The four teams participating in the NBA All-Star Game will compete for a prize pool of $1.8 million, with each player on the championship-winning team receiving $125,000, each player on the second-place team receiving $50,000 and each player on the third- and fourth-place teams receiving $25,000.   NBA All-Star Voting Presented by AT&T   NBA All-Star Voting presented by AT&T, the Official Connectivity Partner of the NBA, will tip off on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 10 a.m. ET and conclude on Monday, Jan. 20 at 11:59 p.m. ET, giving fans the opportunity to vote for the NBA All-Star Game starters via the NBA App powered by Microsoft and NBA.com with their NBA ID.     NBA ID, which offers fans benefits and rewards from the league and its partners, is free to join here.  Voters in the United States will be automatically entered into the NBA ID All-Star Voting Sweepstakes for the opportunity to win a trip to the San Francisco Bay Area for NBA All-Star 2025.       During the voting period, NBA ID members can submit one full ballot each day via the NBA App and the NBA.com voting page (NBA.com/vote).  One full ballot comprises three frontcourt players and two guards from both the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference.  All current NBA players will be available for selection.   On six special “3-for-1 Days,” NBA ID members’ votes will count three times.  These days, from 12:01 a.m. ET – 11:59 p.m. ET, will take place on Saturday, Dec. 21, Wednesday, Dec. 25, Friday, Jan. 3, Friday, Jan. 10, Friday, Jan. 17 and Monday, Jan. 20 (the final day of voting).    Fan voting updates will be shared on the first three Thursdays in January (Jan. 2, 9 and 16).  TNT will reveal the NBA All-Star Game starters on Thursday, Jan. 23 and the reserves on Thursday, Jan. 30.   Current NBA players and a media panel will continue to join fans in selecting the NBA All-Star Game starters.  Each player and media member will be able to complete one full ballot during the voting period.    After all votes for NBA All-Star Game starters are tallied, players will be ranked in each conference by position (guard and frontcourt) within each of the three voting groups – fan votes, player votes and media votes.  Each player’s score will be calculated by averaging his weighted rank from the fan votes, the player votes and the media votes.  The two guards and three frontcourt players with the best score in each conference will be named NBA All-Star Game starters.  Fan voting will serve as the tiebreaker for players in a position group with the same score. NAISMITH BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2025 ENSHRINEMENT CEREMONY WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 – Class of 2025 Nominees to be Revealed on Thursday, December 19 – SPRINGFIELD, MASS. (December 17, 2024) – The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced that the Class of 2025 Enshrinement Ceremony will take place on Saturday, September 6, in Springfield, Mass. – the Birthplace of Basketball.    The nominees for the upcoming class will be revealed on Thursday, December 19, at 3:00 PM ET during “NBA Today” on ESPN. The Class of 2025 Finalist Announcement will be Friday, February 14, as part of the NBA All-Star Weekend in San Francisco, and the Class of 2025 will be announced on Saturday, April 5, during the NCAA Final Four Weekend in San Antonio.   Enshrinement Weekend will begin at the Mohegan Sun on Friday, September 5, with the Tip-Off Celebration and Awards Gala, inclusive of the Class of 2025 jacket and ring presentation and the annual Hall of Fame Awards. The Enshrinement Ceremony will take place the following day in Springfield’s historic Symphony Hall and will be available to a global audience. A full schedule of events will be announced at a later date. FIBA 3x3 to launch major new competition set to debut in Bangkok DECEMBER 17, 2024 BANGKOK (Thailand) - FIBA is thrilled to announce the historic launch of its newest competition, the FIBA 3x3 Champions Cup, debuting in Bangkok, Thailand, on March 14-16, 2025, at CentralWorld Square. According to the decision of the FIBA Central Board, the Champions Cup will be held annually and will feature the world's top 3x3 basketball teams, including continental cup winners, the highest-ranked teams in the FIBA 3x3 basketball rankings, Olympic gold medalists and the host nation. The Champions Cup presents a new opportunity to grow the game of 3x3 basketball globally, offering fans an electrifying format and athletes a new stage to shine. Thailand will host the first five editions of the competition, providing an opportunity to inspire a new generation of 3x3 fans throughout the country. Sponsor, a popular local energy drink, and Red Bull will be title sponsors of the Thailand events, which will be officially known as the FIBA 3x3 Sponsor | Red Bull Champions Cup 2025. "We are excited to announce Bangkok as the host of the first-ever FIBA 3x3 Sponsor | Red Bull Champions Cup. We are looking into new ways of engaging our players and fans and this new premier event will do exactly that, offering thrilling games between the best of the best,” said FIBA 3x3 Managing Director Alex Sanchez. "Hosting the Champions Cup in Bangkok for the next five years provides an incredible opportunity to establish a very strong 3x3 basketball footprint in Thailand." “We are delighted that ‘Sponsor’ and ‘Red Bull’ are joining us as co-title sponsors as we host the inaugural edition of the FIBA 3x3 Sponsor | Red Bull Champions Cup in Bangkok," said Brian L. Marcar, Managing Director of Tero Entertainment. "This event is an amazing opportunity for the Thai basketball community to build on the incredible success of our young male and female 3x3 basketball stars and inspire a whole new generation of young players in Thailand. Additionally, we are thrilled that Channel 7HD will be broadcasting the Champions Cup live on Saturday and Sunday, as the action draws to a thrilling close.” BSNF APRUEBA FRANQUICIA NUEVA PARA JUANA DÍAZ   El Baloncesto Superior Nacional Femenino (BSNF) confirmó esta tarde que contará con 10 equipos en la temporada 2025.   La Junta de Gobierno aprobó, bajo sus reglas de expansión, la llegada de las Monarcas de Juana Díaz. El quinteto será administrado por el doctor Aurelio Collado.   “(Collado) es una persona seria, bien respetada y querida en el pueblo. Él hace tiempo quería estar en el baloncesto superior femenino, es como una meta que él quería hacer, así que está poniendo todo su empeño y su profesionalismo en esta aventura conmigo, y agradecido con la confianza debe haberse acercado a mí para poder tener esta franquicia”, dijo Joel Medina, gerente general de las Monarcas.   “Esto no es nuevo para mí, yo estuve en BSNF en Yauco para el tiempo de María, actualmente estoy trabajando con la puertorriqueña con los Vejigantes (de Ponce), yo soy el apoderado, llevo seis años en la Liga Puertorriqueña, y estuve en Sub-25. Esto es un reto nuevo”, agregó.   Medina explicó que la decisión de establecerse en Juana Díaz se debe a las facilidades deportivas que ofrece, el fácil acceso desde la autopista y la estructura deportiva con la que cuenta el municipio. “Agradecido con la oportunidad que nos da el Municipio de Juana Díaz, su alcalde y el administrador de la ciudad, por el apoyo. Sabemos que no es fácil mantener una franquicia sin apoyo municipal. Estamos bien contentos con estos pasos para desarrollar el baloncesto femenino en el área sur”, expresó Medina.   Por su parte, el presidente del BSNF, Luis G. Miranda Ramos, explicó que con la llegada de Juana Díaz cumple dos de sus metas establecidas para el 2025, que eran llegar a 10 equipos para así poder contar con una cantidad par de franquicias, y regresar a la región sur.   “En 2020 iniciamos un proceso de expansión. Desde el día uno dije que nuestra Liga se concentraba exclusivamente en tres áreas geográficas y que mi meta era volver al sur. Con la llegada de San Germán en la temporada pasada y ahora con Juana Díaz puedo decir que cumplí con mi cometido”, detalló Miranda.   “Ya tenemos 10 equipos. Ahora, mi enfoque será darles estabilidad a las demás franquicias. Sin descartar tener que reubicar a uno de los quintetos existentes para cubrir la zona que aun me falta, que es la región centro-oriental”, concluyó.   Para más información del BSNF pueden visitar la página oficial en el Internet a la dirección bsnfpur.com, así como todas las plataformas en las redes sociales, Facebook: facebook.com/bsnfpur, Instagram: instagram.com/bsnfpur y X: x.com/bsnfpur. USA and Canada win FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup 2024 DECEMBER 15, 2024 SAN JUAN (Puerto Rico) - USA (men) and Canada (women) win against Puerto Rico and USA respectively to win the FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup 2024 on December 15. Team USA (men) steamrolled their way to the final with an unbeaten record. They went up against home side powerhouse Puerto Rico who had lit their way to the final themselves with a perfect record.  It was a high-flying blockbuster finals matchup with both teams rising to the occasion. With scores at 19 - 18 in favor of USA, it was Dylan Travis who called game with a tough two, earning USA Gold in a 21 - 18 thriller.  The Canadian women were their usual clinical self all tournament, going unbeaten on their way to the final where they faced a similarly on-fire USA side.  It was a physical battle between two highly-skilled sides. Canada maintained a slight advantage for the majority of the game but team USA kept answering back. It was a late two from Abigail Hsu that tied things up, sending the game to OT. However, it would be Canada’s night as former World number one Katherine Plouffe would call game in the clutch, earning Canada gold with a 19 - 18 win.  In the bronze medal games, Canada (men) came back to win against Republica Dominicana 21 - 16. Jerome Desrosiers and Grant Allen Audu combined for 14 points in the tie, continuing on a hot scoring tournament for the duo led by the experienced Steve Sir.  Brazil (women) clutched up against home side Puerto Rico in a back-and-forth bronze medal game. It was the talismanic Luana de Souza who drilled a late two-pointer to hand them the lead. The shot would hand Brazil a 17 - 16 win for bronze.  Henry Caruso brought the show to San Juan as he was the hub of team USA’s (men) offense. He put up 26 points across the tournament and led all players in Player Value with 44.5. He earned himself MVP honors, leading the Men’s Team of the Tournament alongside Puerto Rico’s Angel Matias and Canada’s Steve Sir who were both instrumental in their respective sides finishing with silver and bronze.  Canada’s (women) Paige Crozon was lights out in scoring for her side. She would lead all players in points and player value, tallying 46 and a whopping 59.3 respectively. She handily won the MVP award, headlined the Women’s Team of the Tournament next to team USA’s Brittney Sykes and Brazil’s Gabriella Soares who were key to their sides success in the tournament.  Men's standings 1. United States 2. Puerto Rico 3. Canada 4. Dominican Republic 5. Chile 6. Brazil 7. Jamaica 8. Mexico 9. Argentina 10. Haiti 11. Uruguay 12. Colombia Women's standings 1. Canada 2. United States 3. Brazil 4. Puerto Rico 5. Dominican Republic 6. Chile 7. Jamaica 8. Cuba 9. Colombia 10. Argentina 11. Mexico 12. Uruguay

ClutchBasket: Basketball News

USA remain on top, Italy climb to No. 4 in latest FIBA World Ranking Boys, presented by Nike

DECEMBER 13, 2024 MIES (Switzerland) - USA continue to reign supreme in the FIBA World Ranking Boys, presented by Nike, following their title wins at both youth events they participated in. The biggest mover in the Top 10 was Italy - jumping four spots to Number 4 in the world. USA breezed to the crown at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024 and were once again dominant at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup 2024 as well, for a total of 824.4 points - slightly extending their lead over world No. 2 Spain.

Spain's summer was highlighted by a second place at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2024, but they narrowly avoided relegation at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2024, taking 13th place. Spain barely kept the second spot in the rankings ahead of France - 726.8 to 725.1 points. The French claimed the U16 European trophy and also grabbed fifth place at the U18 continental event - to give them a spot for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025. Not far behind those two is another European nation: Italy, who climbed four spots from eighth place thanks to an impressive summer. They secured their best-ever result in the FIBA U17 World Cup with a second-place finish and also claimed fifth place at the U16 EuroBasket. Serbia remained fifth in the rankings with a U18 second place and third place at U16 in Europe despite not participating in the U17 World Cup. Australia dropped three spots to seventh after a disappointing 15th-place finish at the U17 World Cup. However, they managed to regain balance by winning the crown at the FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2024. Germany climbed one spot to ninth after winning the FIBA U18 EuroBasket for the first time in the nation's history. The biggest jump in the Top 20 belongs to New Zealand, who moved 12 spots to No. 15 after their historic fourth place at the FIBA U17 World Cup - tying for the country's best-ever result along with the Tall Blacks taking fourth at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2002. New Zealand also finished second at the FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2024. The top-ranked South American team is Brazil at 14th while Dominican Republic is the best-ranked team from the Centrobasket region at number 17. Africa's top team remains Mali - unchanged at No. 18 after winning the FIBA U18 AfroBasket 2024 while not playing at the FIBA U17 World Cup. But Guinea rose another five spots to just outside the Top 20 at number 21 following a 14th place showing at their first-ever U17 World Cup. For more information about the method used in the calculation of the FIBA World Ranking Boys, please refer to the "How it works" section. Click here to view the full FIBA World Ranking Boys, presented by Nike. USA still reign; Spain and Japan jump up the latest FIBA World Ranking Girls, presented by Nike DECEMBER 12, 2024 MIES (Switzerland) - The USA still sit proudly at the summit of the FIBA World Ranking Girls, presented by Nike, with the updated edition also seeing significant rises for Spain, Japan, Italy, Serbia and Portugal. USA continue to dominate in top spot after a flawless 7-0 record at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2024 in Mexico. They also consolidate their position after riding to another title at the FIBA U18 Women's AmeriCup 2024 where they went unbeaten. There will be satisfaction for Spain who proudly claim second spot in the rankings after they moved up two places, helped by their bronze medal success at the U17 Worlds, a silver at the FIBA U18 Women's EuroBasket 2024 and third-place finish at the FIBA U16 Women's EuroBasket 2024. In the meantime, France is losing valuable points from their 2nd place finish at the FIBA U17 Women's World Cup 2018, as this competition is no longer factored into the ranking calculation. Japan can enjoy jumping three positions as they now reflect on finding themselves in an impressive 6th spot. This was fueled mainly by their 6th place finish in Mexico at the FIBA U17 Women's World Cup this summer and a bronze at the FIBA U18 Women's Asia Cup 2024 in Shenzhen. A coveted Top 10 place is now a tangible target for Italy after they shot up four places into 11th. They rose above Germany, Czechia, Mali and Croatia thanks mainly to having accrued more ranking points in their U17 Worlds appearance. Meanwhile Serbia are celebrating their advancement of three spots as they went up to 13th after claiming the last podium step at the FIBA U18 Women's EuroBasket 2024. That was also the reason for Portugal picking up the prestige of being the biggest climber inside the Top 20 as they rocket upwards by six places and into 17th. This came after a big home crowd in Matosinhos roared them to a top five finish at the event and also a dream ticket to the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2025. There were also significantly positive upward moves by Israel and New Zealand. The former shot up 9 places into 23rd after making the Semi-Finals of the FIBA U18 Women's EuroBasket 2024, while New Zealand are now 7 spots better off than previously in 24th. The most striking vertical climb in the Top 50 was racked up by Rwanda whose ascendancy caught the eye in a big way after they improved 23 places. They are now 45th in the rankings after making the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA U18 Women's AfroBasket 2024. For more information about the method used in the calculation of the FIBA World Ranking Youth Women, please refer to the 'How it works' section. Click here to view the full FIBA World Ranking Girls, presented by Nike. NBA AND NIKE TO HOST SECOND EYBL SCHOLASTIC SHOWCASE IN LAS VEGAS IN CONJUNCTION WITH EMIRATES NBA CUP   – Nike’s The Chosen-1’s Invitational powered by LeBron James will Take Place Alongside EYBL Scholastic Showcase; All EYBL Scholastic Showcase Games and Two Chosen-1’s Invitational Games will Stream on the NBA App–    – EYBL Scholastic Showcase will Feature Regular-Season EYBL Scholastic Games and Leadership Development Programming for Top High School Players as Part of the NBA and Nike’s Efforts to Elevate Basketball at All Levels –   NEW YORK, Dec. 11, 2024 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Nike today announced that the second edition of the Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) Scholastic Showcase – a basketball competition and player development event for six top high school basketball programs – will take place from Thursday, Dec. 12 – Monday, Dec. 16 in Las Vegas as part of the Emirates NBA Cup Semifinals and Championship.    EYBL Scholastic’s AZ Compass (Chandler, Ariz.), Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.), Link Academy (Branson, Mo.), Long Island Lutheran High School (Brookeville, N.Y.), Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) and Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) will play a series of high school basketball games at Dolby Live (Dec. 13 and 15), T-Mobile Arena (Dec. 15) and Bishop Gorman High School (Dec. 16).    The event will take place alongside The Chosen-1’s Invitational powered by LeBron James, a showcase and competition for 12 teams that will be hosted at Dolby Live on Dec. 14-15 and is free to attend.  All five EYBL Scholastic Showcase games and two Chosen-1’s Invitational games will stream on the NBA App with highlights featured on NBA Future Starts Now.    EYBL Scholastic Showcase teams will participate in a variety of personal development and community activities throughout the week, headlined by the NBA Cares Day of Service benefitting members of the Bill & Lillie Heinrich YMCA.  They will also take part in leadership and life skills seminars and attend the Emirates NBA Cup Eastern Conference Semifinals game on Saturday, Dec. 14 as part of the multi-day experience.  Additionally, EYBL Scholastic coaches will participate in a coaching development session.   The event is part of the NBA and Nike’s collective commitment to enhance and expand basketball for the next generation that was announced as part of the 12-year partnership extension ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season.    The schedule of games on the NBA App is below, with all EYBL Scholastic Showcase games being open to NBA team front office personnel for player evaluation purposes.     Friday, Dec. 13   Team 1 Team 2 Location Event Platform PT   AZ Compass Brewster Academy Dolby Live EYBL Scholastic Showcase NBA App 7 p.m.     Saturday, Dec. 14   Sierra Canyon (Girls) Bishop Gorman (Girls) Dolby Live Chosen-1’s Invitational NBA App 7 p.m.   Sierra Canyon (Boys) Coronado High School (Boys) Dolby Live Chosen-1’s Invitational NBA App 9 p.m.     Sunday, Dec. 15   Team 1 Team 2 Location Event Platform PT   AZ Compass Sunrise Christian Academy Dolby Live EYBL Scholastic Showcase NBA App 11 a.m.   Montverde Academy Brewster Academy Dolby Live EYBL Scholastic Showcase NBA App 1 p.m.   Long Island Lutheran Link Academy T-Mobile Arena EYBL Scholastic Showcase NBA App 7 p.m.     Monday, Dec. 16   Team 1 Team 2 Location Event Platform PT   Long Island Lutheran Sunrise Christian Academy Bishop Gorman High School EYBL Scholastic Showcase NBA App 4 p.m.   Nike EYBL, the premier spring and summer youth basketball circuit comprised of top high school-age male and female players in the country, extended its programming to a year-round basis with the launch of EYBL Scholastic last year.  As part of their ongoing partnership and shared commitment to creating more opportunities to support the development of top high school age players, the NBA and Nike have collaborated to host on- and off-court programming at Peach Jam and Nike Nationals focused on coach education and training, life skills and leadership development, player health and wellness, and female coach recruitment and retention support.   More than 230 NBA and WNBA players have EYBL experience, and 13 EYBL teams are currently sponsored by NBA and WNBA players, including Bradley Beal, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Paul George, Sabrina Ionescu, LeBron James, Kia Nurse, Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook.    Nike, which has been an NBA partner since 1992, has served as the official on-court apparel provider of the NBA, WNBA and NBA G League since the 2017-18 season as well as the Basketball Africa League (BAL) since 2021. NBA Tips Off Christmas Day with “Jingle Hoops Regifted”   The NBA today debuted its Christmas Day brand campaign, “Jingle Hoops Regifted,” an animated remix of the league’s popular 2013 Jingle Hoops commercial.  “Jingle Hoops Regifted” is now streaming across all NBA social media platforms and in the NBA App.  The spot will premiere in broadcast tonight during the Emirates NBA Cup East quarterfinal matchup between the Orlando Magic and the Milwaukee Bucks at 7 p.m. ET on TNT, truTV and Max.     The new campaign opens with a familiar shot of five players practicing three-pointers to the tune of the Christmas classic “Jingle Bells.”  The cast, reimagined as animated action figures, includes three players also featured in the original 2013 ad, Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns) and LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers), now joined by Luka Dončić (Dallas Mavericks) and Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics).   As the players put up shots, they are interrupted by Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets), Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers) and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs), who all boldly swoop in to play out a new melody.  A toy figurine of ESPN’s Malika Andrews and a bobblehead of NBA on ABC’s Mike Breen also appear, providing commentary on the chaos.   Watch “Jingle Hoops Regifted” here.   “Jingle Hoops Regifted” was produced in collaboration with Translation and directed by Dave Scanlon with live-action and animation by Passion Pictures.  In addition to the 30-second ad, the campaign will feature four 10-second vignettes and will be extended through complementary out-of-home, digital, social and audio assets. Fans can also celebrate the 77th year of the NBA on Christmas Day by visiting the NBA Hoopin’ Holiday Bus as it rolls through New York City on Dec. 21 and 22.  The NBA and ESPN are partnering on the activation, which will host fans of all ages for holiday fun, games, photo opportunities, hot cocoa and special surprises outside of the NBA Store on Fifth Avenue from 11-7 p.m. on Dec. 21 and near the Union Square holiday market from 11-7 p.m. on Dec. 22.   The NBA will feature five games on Christmas Day (Wednesday, Dec. 25) for the 17th year in a row, with each matchup available on ESPN, ABC, ESPN+ and Disney+.  The NBA on Christmas Day will tip off with the Spurs facing the Knicks in a first-time matchup on Christmas Day (noon ET).  A special alternate cast of the game, titled “Dunk the Halls,” will appear on ESPN2, Disney+ and ESPN+, marking the first animated presentation of an NBA game.   The Christmas Day slate continues with a 2024 Western Conference Finals rematch between the Mavericks and Timberwolves (2:30 p.m. ET), followed by the 76ers visiting the defending NBA champion Celtics (5 p.m. ET) and the Warriors hosting the Lakers (8 p.m. ET).  The Christmas Day schedule will conclude when the Suns host the Nuggets (10:30 p.m. ET).   TIMBERWOLVES’ ANTHONY EDWARDS FINED NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2024 – Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards has been fined $25,000 for using profane language during a media interview, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations. Edward’s comments came during postgame media availability following the Timberwolves’ 107-90 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Dec. 6 at Chase Center. SPURS’ ZACH COLLINS FINED NEW YORK, Dec. 7, 2024 – San Antonio Spurs forward-center Zach Collins has been fined $35,000 for making an obscene gesture on the playing court following his ejection, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations. The incident occurred with 9:07 remaining in the second quarter of the Spurs’ 140-113 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Dec. 6 at Frost Bank Center. CELTICS’ JAYLEN BROWN FINED   NEW YORK, Dec. 6, 2024 – Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown has been fined $25,000 for making an inappropriate gesture on the playing court, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.    The incident occurred with 0:12 remaining in the first quarter of the Celtics’ 130-120 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Dec. 4 at TD Garden. Competition format changes for women tops FIBA Central Board meeting DECEMBER 6, 2024 MIES (Switzerland) - The FIBA Central Board convened at the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball, FIBA's headquarters, to wrap up an exciting year that was filled with numerous highlights and achievements. The following key topics were discussed at the meeting: FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments and Olympic Games 2024 The Central Board approved the reports on this year’s FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2024 that were played in Greece, Latvia, Puerto Rico, and Spain, and the Olympic Basketball Tournaments Paris 2024 for both men and women. The 2024 summer of international basketball had record-breaking engagement levels on all FIBA digital platforms for an Olympic year, with exceptional numbers across the entire spectrum of social media and website metrics for all 2024 FIBA events directly linked to the Olympic Games. Basketball fans of the 2024 Olympics also delivered an outstanding performance, turning out in exceptional numbers in Lille and Paris and helping break the Olympic attendance record. A total of 1,078,319 fans attended the Women's and Men's Olympic Basketball Tournaments.   The Central Board has also acknowledged that the early starting date of the LA28 Olympic Games on July 14, 2028, will require, even after necessary adjustments in the professional league calendars in June 2028, joint efforts among the International Olympic Committee, FIBA and LA28 to facilitate the logistics for the teams qualifying from the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, which will take place between June 26 and July 2, 2028.   FIBA Continental Cups 2025 Qualifiers Reports were received on the recent Window 2 of the FIBA Continental Cups 2025 Qualifiers, including preparations for the FIBA EuroBasket, FIBA AfroBasket, FIBA Asia Cup and FIBA AmeriCup for both men and women. These flagship continental events are scheduled to take place in 2025, with the recent round of Qualifiers drawing large crowds across the globe.   FIBA Basketball World Cups Bidding Process The Central Board has approved an open-ended parallel bidding process for both the men's and women's FIBA Basketball World Cups. This process mirrors the one used for the 2026 and 2027 World Cups, allowing candidates to submit their proposals when they are ready. The bidding process for the next FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup will begin in July 2025, while the process for the FIBA Basketball World Cup will start in November 2025.   FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Preparations for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 continue with the Central Board approving the latest report, which included details on the recent Pre-Qualifying Tournaments held in August 2024 in Mexico and Rwanda.   Upon proposals from the FIBA Sub-Commission for Women’s National Teams, the Central Board has approved two format changes: Qualifying Tournaments for the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 will be played in four groups of six teams, with all teams playing each other in a round robin system, increasing the window length to 11 days.   The FIBA Women's Olympics Pre-Qualifying Tournament 2026 will be played with eight teams, two groups of four, with the winner qualifying to the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2028. FIBA U17 and U19 Basketball World Cups The Central Board approved reports on both the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cups set for 2026 and preparations for both the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025, to be played in June in the Olympic Capital of Switzerland, and the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2025 in Brno, Czechia in July. The draws for both U19 World Cups have been finalized and are set for early 2025. The men's draw will be held in Lausanne on January 31, while the women's draw is scheduled for February 4 in Brno. 3x3 The Central Board received detailed season reports for both the 2024 3x3 Women's Series and the 3x3 World Tour. The 3x3 Women's Series reached record-breaking engagement, with the Final bringing the 2024 season to a close in Hangzhou, China, on September 7 and 8. Meanwhile, throughout an exciting 3x3 World Tour season at 17 iconic locations, some of the world’s best 3x3 basketball players thrilled fans worldwide. The season concluded with an exciting Final on November 24 in Hong Kong, China, which was a repeat of the Paris 2024 Olympics Gold Medal game.   With both competitions continuing to raise the bar year-on-year, these updates highlighted the significant achievements and milestones reached throughout the season, as well as the global outlook for 3x3 in 2025.   Club Competitions The Central Board approved reports on several key club competition events, including the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2024 in Singapore, the Basketball Africa League Season 4 and the Road to BAL 2025, the Basketball Champions League, Basketball Champions League Americas, Basketball Champions League Asia, and the other club competitions held in Asia.   FIBA Plus An update was presented on FIBA Plus, which highlighted that 112 National Federations received support through FIBA Plus activities, either in Planning or Implementation Support in 2024. A comprehensive update was also given on the FIBA Academy, which is set to be operational in 2025.   eFIBA The Central Board received a season report on eFIBA Season 3, detailing the progress and achievements of the competition. Additionally, preparations for the highly anticipated eFIBA World Finals, set to take place in the Philippines next week on December 11 and 12, were presented.   Other Matters The Central Board has approved the concept of Masters events to engage players in the 40+ age category, with the objective to implement the first ever Masters competition for Basketball and 3x3 in 2026.    Following the findings of the latest International Basketball Migration Report 2024, the Central Board has approved the creation of an expert group focused on Young Players and the NCAA. This initiative aims to deepen the understanding of developments within the NCAA, particularly concerning player remuneration and its implications for clubs, leagues and National Federations. BROOKLYN NETS AND PHOENIX SUNS TO PLAY TWO PRESEASON GAMES IN MACAO IN OCTOBER 2025   - Nets and Suns to Play Preseason Games on Oct. 10 and 12, 2025 at The Venetian Arena -   MACAO, CHINA AND NEW YORK, Dec. 6, 2024 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Sands China Ltd. (HKEx: 1928.HK) today announced a multiyear collaboration to bring NBA China Games to Macao, beginning in 2025 when the Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns will play two preseason games on Friday, Oct. 10 and Sunday, Oct. 12 at The Venetian Arena.   The NBA and Sands will conduct interactive fan activities, NBA Cares community outreach initiatives, and lifestyle events that will bring the NBA experience to fans in Macao throughout the year, including an NBA Fan Day during the week of the games that will feature celebrity performances and the opportunity to watch the teams, celebrities and influencers participate in oncourt activities and skills competitions.  Ahead of the games, an NBA Flagship Store will open at The Londoner Macao and provide fans in Macao and visiting from around the world with a wide range of authentic and customizable NBA merchandise from major brands such as Nike, Mitchell & Ness, New Era, Wilson and NBA Kids.   Sands hosted an event today at The Londoner Arena in Macao where the announcement was made by NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum, Las Vegas Sands (LVS) President and Chief Operating Officer and Dallas Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont, and Sands China Ltd. (SCL) President and Chief Executive Officer Grant Chum.  Joining them on stage were Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment (BSE) Global Executive Vice President of Global Partnerships Catherine Carlson, Phoenix Suns Executive Vice President & Chief Revenue Officer Dan Costello, and NBA Legends Ray Allen, DeMarcus Cousins, Stephon Marbury, Tracy McGrady, Cuttino Mobley and Tony Parker.   The Nets currently feature 2023 FIBA World Cup gold medalist Dennis Schröder (Germany), 2023 USA Basketball Men’s National Team member Cam Johnson (U.S.) and three-time NBA All-Star Ben Simmons (Australia).  The Suns currently feature four-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant (U.S.), two-time Olympic gold medalist and four-time NBA All-Star Devin Booker (U.S.), and three-time NBA All-Star Bradley Beal (U.S.).   The NBA China Games 2025 presented by 88VIP will reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories on television, digital media and social media.  Ticket sales information will be announced at a later date.   In addition to presenting partner 88VIP, the games and surrounding events will be supported by a roster of marketing partners, including Ant International, Ctrip, Mengniu, Nike and Tissot.  Sands China, the Official Integrated Resort Partner of NBA China, will serve as the Official Promoter of the games.     Executive Quotes:   NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum: “Bringing preseason games to Macao will showcase the excitement of the NBA to fans in one of the world’s emerging hubs for sports.  The Nets and the Suns feature an exciting mix of established and rising stars, and we look forward to engaging fans, aspiring players and the local community in Macao through these games and a variety of interactive events, youth development programs and social impact initiatives.”   LVS President and Chief Operating Officer and Dallas Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont: “NBA basketball is a global sport that attracts people of different ages, backgrounds and cultures.  It creates exciting experiences that connect people while playing a positive role in communities.  Sands is honored to bring The NBA China Games to Macao so that the most elite level of basketball can be experienced directly by the fans who are so passionate about it.  We look forward to welcoming the NBA to Macao next October.”   SCL President and Chief Executive Officer Grant Chum: “Today’s announcement marks the beginning of an exciting multiyear collaboration between Sands China and the NBA.  We are thrilled to be bringing The NBA China Games to Macao and to create opportunities for basketball fans from around the world to celebrate the best of sports.  This association reflects Sands China’s commitment to delivering exceptional experiences to our guests and our local community by providing a diverse spectrum of sports and lifestyle events throughout the year.”   Brooklyn Nets General Manager Sean Marks: “We always love the opportunity to compete on the global stage and we are grateful to participate in The NBA China Games 2025.  The Brooklyn Nets have an incredible fanbase around the globe and we can’t wait to bring our love of the game directly to our fans while giving our players and coaches the opportunity to immerse themselves in a different culture.”   Phoenix Suns Chief Executive Officer Josh Bartelstein: “We are excited to bring the Phoenix Suns to Macao next year to compete in front of our passionate fans in the region.  Participating in The NBA China Games 2025 is part of our owner Mat Ishbia’s vision to bring the Suns to a global audience and impact fans across the world.”        ROCKETS’ IME UDOKA, TARI EASON AND ALPEREN SENGUN FINED   NEW YORK, Dec. 5, 2024 – Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, forward Tari Eason and center Alperen Sengun have been fined $50,000, $35,000 and $15,000, respectively, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.    Udoka has been fined $50,000 for confronting and directing profane language toward a game official, failing to leave the court in a timely manner after being ejected, and public criticism of the officiating during his postgame press conference.    Eason has been fined $35,000 for throwing a towel and directing inappropriate language in the direction of a fan in the spectator stands after the game had concluded.   Sengun has been fined $15,000 for directing inappropriate language toward a game official.   The in-game incident, for which Udoka and Sengun were both assessed technical fouls and ejected, occurred with 1:52 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Rockets’ 120-111 loss to the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on Tuesday, Dec. 3.