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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

Basketball News

 

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

• The Cleveland at Philadelphia game will now be televised by ESPN, with game time changed to 7:30 PM ET.
• The Miami at Brooklyn game will no longer be televised by ESPN.

 

 

FEB. 15, 2023	LOCAL	ET	TV
Cleveland at Philadelphia	7:30PM	7:30PM	ESPN
New Orleans at L.A. Lakers	7:00PM	10:00PM	ESPN

ANTHONY EDWARDS, DE’AARON FOX AND PASCAL SIAKAM NAMED AS INJURY REPLACEMENTS FOR 2023 NBA ALL-STAR GAME

 

– Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Zion Williamson Out of All-Star Game –

 

– Joel Embiid, Lauri Markkanen and Ja Morant Become All-Star Game Starters –

 

NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2023 – Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox and Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam have been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver as injury replacements for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, which will be played on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. MT at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City (TNT/ESPN Radio).

 

The three players will replace Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (left superior tib/fib sprain), Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (right knee MCL sprain) and New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (strained right hamstring). 

 

In addition, Curry, Durant and Williamson will be replaced as starters in the NBA All-Star Game by three players who were previously selected as All-Star reserves: Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen and Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant.

 

This is the first NBA All-Star selection for both Edwards and Fox and the second for Siakam.

 

Edwards, the first overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, is posting career highs in points (24.7 ppg), rebounds (6.0 rpg), assists (4.6 apg), steals (1.66 spg), field goal percentage (46.4%) and three-point field goal percentage (36.7%) in his third NBA season.  He leads the NBA in total steals (96) and minutes (2,099).

 

Fox is averaging 24.2 points, 6.3 assists and a career-high 4.3 rebounds while shooting a career-high 50.4% from the field in his sixth NBA season.  He leads the NBA with 128 points in clutch situations, which occur when the scoring margin of a game is within five points in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime. 

 

Siakam is an NBA All-Star for the first time since the 2019-20 season, when he became the first NBA G League alum to start an NBA All-Star Game.  A seven-year NBA veteran from Cameroon, he is averaging a career-high 25.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and a career-high 6.2 assists in an NBA-high 37.5 minutes this season.        

 

When an All-Star starter is unable to participate in the NBA All-Star Game before the NBA All-Star Draft takes place, he is replaced in the starter pool for the Draft by the All-Star reserve from the same conference and of the same position group who had the highest weighted ranking in the voting for All-Star starters.  The starter replacements are Embiid for Durant (who was in the Eastern Conference frontcourt group at the time of the voting), Markkanen for Williamson and Morant for Curry.

 

Embiid, Markkanen and Morant will be selected with the starters and Edwards, Fox and Siakam will be selected with the reserves in the NBA All-Star Draft presented by Jordan Brand, which will take place on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. MT at Vivint Arena right before the NBA All-Star Game.  TNT will air the NBA All-Star Draft live during its pregame show and then present the 72^nd NBA All-Star Game, a matchup between Team LeBron and Team Giannis.

 

The complete player pool for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game is attached and below.

 

# # #

 

 

 

 BROOKLYN’S CAM THOMAS FINED

 

NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2023 – Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas has been fined $40,000 for using derogatory and disparaging language during a live television interview, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.

 

Thomas made his comments during an on-court interview at the conclusion of the Nets’ 116-105 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 9 at Barclays Center. 

NBA TO HOST SERIES OF SOCIAL IMPACT AND YOUTH BASKETBALL PROGRAMMING AS PART OF NBA ALL-STAR 2023

–  Team LeBron and Team Giannis to Play for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah and Raise the Future During All-Star Game –

–  NBA and NBPA to Contribute More Than $3 Million to Local Youth, Family-Serving and HBCU-focused Organizations –

 

 

NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2023 – As part of NBA All-Star 2023, the NBA family will engage with the greater Utah community through five days of social impact and youth basketball events that will unify communities through service, philanthropy and teaching the values of the game of basketball.  Social impact programming will focus on youth, education, food insecurity and economic inclusion.  Also throughout NBA All-Star, the league will continue using its platform to create opportunities for students from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).  Together, the NBA and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) will contribute more than $3 million to the Utah and HBCU communities.

 

NBA All-Star Game Beneficiaries

The league’s community initiatives will culminate during the NBA All-Star Game where Team LeBron and Team Giannis will collectively donate nearly a million dollars for local youth and family-serving organizations.  Team LeBron will play for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah – an organization whose mission is to create and support mentorship that ignites the power and promise of youth; and Team Giannis will play for Raise the Future – an organization that connects youth waiting in foster care with adults who become stable forces that last a lifetime.  Youth from the two groups will be integrated into programming throughout All-Star, including practice, the pregame draft, and attending the game to cheer on their respective teams.

 

NBPA Foundation Legacy Grants

The NBPA Foundation will donate grants to several local organizations that support reducing mental health stigma and increasing access to mental health services.

 

2023 RUFFLES® All-Star Celebrity Game

During the 2023 RUFFLES® All-Star Celebrity Game, the Ruffles 4-point Ridge Line, a 4-point line resembling the ridges in Ruffles potato chips, is back to support a good cause.  For every shot made from behind the line, Ruffles and the NBA will donate $4,000 to support 5 For The Fight, a Utah Jazz non-profit partner who, in partnership with Howard University, has launched the 5 For The Fight Cancer Research internship to help increase the number of diverse, emerging scientists working on cancer research.

 

2023 STARRY 3-Point Contest

If any player scores 30 points in a single round during the Starry 3-Point Contest on Saturday, Feb. 18, Starry will make a $300,000 donation to the NBA Foundation.

 

NBA Cares

NBA Cares Learn and Play Center Dedication – The NBA, teaming up with State Farm, will continue its mission to use the power of basketball to bring people together and create a lasting, positive impact in the community with the dedication of a new NBA Cares Learn and Play Center at Lincoln Elementary School in South Salt Lake on Feb. 16.  The NBA and State Farm will unveil a newly renovated STEM education space inclusive of new technology, books and other resources.  In addition, enhancements to the school’s gymnasium will also be unveiled, including new basketball hoops, equipment, lighting and updated flooring – all to help create a brighter, cleaner, safer space for youth in the community. 

 

15^th NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service - On Feb. 17, more than 500 NBA volunteers, including current players, legends, guests, community partners as well as partner support from Nike and SAP will give back to the state of Utah through hands-on service projects focused on alleviating food insecurity and providing essential items for those in need.  Working in partnership with Utah Food Bank, Bishop’s Central Storehouse and Volunteers of America Utah, volunteers will assist with sorting and repacking food donations to distribute items to those in need and packing essential item donations to support low-income students and families.

 

Inclusion

Leading up to NBA All-Star, members of the NBA family will visit with youth members at Encircle and the Utah Pride Center on Feb. 15 as part of the league’s commitment to celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.  At Encircle, which offers resources to help youth and young adults of the LGBTQ+ community thrive, guests will take a tour of the facility and participate in a friendship circle.  At Utah Pride – a center which unites, empowers and celebrates Utah’s diverse LGBTQ+ community by providing a safe and welcoming space for education, partnerships, services and events which advance our collective health, wellness and success – NBA Legend, LGBTQ+ advocate and NBA Cares Ambassador Jason Collins, former WNBA player and NBA Senior Vice President of Player Development Jamila Wideman and others will engage with youth about their respective journeys. 

 

In line with the Jazz and the NBA’s year-round efforts to make our game more accessible to fans living with sensory needs, the NBA will also partner with KultureCity to distribute sensory bags and make available the team’s sensory room for fans in attendance throughout the weekend at Vivint Arena.

 

On Sunday, Feb. 19, the NBA and Utah Jazz will also host a clinic for wheelchair-bound youth in collaboration with Wheelin’ Jazz for participants in the Junior Jazz Wheelchair basketball league; and a Sensory Inclusive Clinic in collaboration with community organizations ABI, Spectrum Academy, and Unified Champion Schools, centered on creating an inclusive and fun environment on the court.

HBCU Classic and other Initiatives

As previously announced, on Saturday, Feb. 18, the Grambling State University and Southern University men’s basketball teams will face off in the second NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T at 4 p.m. ET/2 p.m. MT at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, which will be simulcast on TNT, ESPN2 and NBA TV.  As part of the NBA’s and AT&T’s respective ongoing commitments to HBCUs, they will make donations to each school to support the student experience. Additionally, the NBA will create professional development opportunities including an event internship program for HBCU students from multiple institutions.

 

The NBA Foundation will donate $500,000 to Braven, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the United Negro College Fund and The University of Utah’s HBCU Impact and Black Cultural Center Program.  Funding will help expand programming and critical resources for HBCU students and alumni as part of the Foundation’s mission to create economic opportunity for Black youth.

 

Economic Inclusion and Uplifting Black-Owned Businesses

Access: Business to Business Development - As part of its ongoing commitment to engage with and support local diverse-owned businesses during NBA All-Star 2023 and beyond, the NBA in collaboration with the Utah Jazz and Living Color Utah will host an All-Star Business to Business (B2B) Development Event on Feb. 16.  The theme of this year’s event is “access,” and the program will focus on providing attendees the information needed to access support services and business opportunities.  The event will feature a series of moderated panels and networking opportunities for attendees.

 NBA Foundation Pitch Competition - The NBA Foundation aims to grow the next generation of Black entrepreneurs and tech leaders by providing the tools, resources and funding for innovative ideas through the NBA Foundation Pitch Competition on Feb. 16.  In collaboration with the National Black MBA Association and Utah Black Chamber of Commerce, the Foundation will host a live pitch competition highlighting Black entrepreneurs in the Salt Lake City community and across the country.  Eight entrepreneurs will present their businesses, platforms, and technology to a panel of NBA and business executives for a chance to win cash prizes.

 

NBA All-Star Rewards Program - With a focus on economic inclusion and supporting the city’s recovery efforts from the ongoing effects of the pandemic, the NBA has included more than 130 diverse-owned businesses as part of the NBA All-Star Rewards Program.  Launched in late 2022, the program encourages fans to patronize locally owned restaurants and retail businesses for the chance to win tickets to attend All-Star events and other exclusive prizes. 

 

Sustainability - Throughout NBA All-Star, the NBA will educate and empower fans, and the broader Salt Lake City community to find innovative solutions to address environmental issues facing Salt Lake City.  The NBA will partner with Clever Carbon to encourage fans to take a brief quiz to understand their carbon footprint, as well as engage with the University of Utah’s SPARC Lab to fund on-going programs aimed at educating local youth around the importance of air quality.  The NBA will also donate funding and work with Midvale Elementary School to enhance the school’s outdoor food pantry and garden area.  In addition to collecting and measuring data to better understand its carbon footprint, the NBA will work with accredited partners to track, reduce and offset identifiable and unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions tied to NBA All-Star.

TOP INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTS TO TRAVEL TO SALT LAKE CITY FOR SEVENTH ANNUAL BASKETBALL WITHOUT BORDERS GLOBAL CAMP

                                                              

- BWB Global Camp During NBA All-Star 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah

Will Bring Together Top 40 High-School-Age Prospects from 27 Countries -

 

NEW YORK AND MIES, SWITZERLAND, Feb. 9, 2023 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) today announced the top 40 male prospects from 27 countries who will travel to Salt Lake City, Utah for the seventh annual Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Global camp, which will be held Friday, Feb. 17 – Sunday, Feb. 19 at the Utah Jazz Practice Facility as part of NBA All-Star 2023.

 

Top high-school-age campers from Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe will participate in a variety of activities, including anthropometric and athletic testing, movement efficiency, skill development stations, shooting and skills competitions, life skills seminars and 5-on-5 games, under the guidance of NBA Basketball Operations staff and select NBA players attending NBA All-Star 2023.

 

Members of the NBA Coaching Development Program (CDP), which assists former players who are looking to transition into the coaching ranks and further deepen the pipeline of coaching talent across leagues, will also serve as BWB Global coaches.  Patrick Hunt (President of the World Association of Basketball Coaches; Australia), Gersson Rosas (New York Knicks Senior Basketball Advisor; Colombia) and Masai Ujiri (Toronto Raptors President and Vice Chairman; Nigeria) will be the camp directors. 

 

The final day will feature a single-elimination tournament culminating with the championship game, which will be followed by a ceremony to award the Kim Bohuny Camp MVP, the Patrick Baumann Sportsmanship Award, the Defensive MVP, and the Three-Point Champion.  The campers will also attend the 72^nd NBA All-Star Game at Vivint Arena later that day.  

 

Among the 38 former BWB campers on opening-night NBA rosters this season (active and inactive), 23 participated in BWB Global, including Deandre Ayton (Phoenix Suns; Bahamas; BWB Global 2016), RJ Barrett (New York Knicks; Canada; BWB Global 2017), Josh Giddey (Oklahoma City Thunder; Australia; BWB Global 2020), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder; Canada; BWB Global 2016), Rui Hachimura (Los Angeles Lakers; Japan; BWB Global 2016), Lauri Markkanen (Jazz; Finland; BWB Global 2015), Bennedict Mathurin (Indiana Pacers; Canada; BWB Global 2020) and Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets; Canada; BWB Global 2015).

 

The camp will feature 11 current prospects from NBA Academy, a year-round elite basketball development program that provides top high-school-age athletes from outside the U.S. with a holistic approach to player development and a predictable pathway to maximize their potential.  NBA Academies have been launched in Canberra, Australia (NBA Global Academy); Delhi National Capital Region, India (NBA Academy India); San Luis Potosí, Mexico (NBA Academy Latin America); and Saly, Senegal (NBA Academy Africa) for top prospects from their respective countries and continents.  To date, more than 90 NBA Academy participants have committed to or gone on to attend NCAA Division I schools in the U.S., and 18 have played, are playing or have signed to play professionally, including Dyson Daniels (New Orleans Pelicans; NBA Global Academy), Giddey (NBA Global Academy), and Mathurin (NBA Academy Latin America).

 

Nike, a global partner of BWB since 2002, will outfit the campers and coaches with Nike apparel and footwear. 

 

For the first time, the NBA, WNBA and FIBA will host a separate BWB Global camp for top high-school-age female prospects from outside the U.S. in July as part of AT&T WNBA All-Star 2023 in Las Vegas.

 

BWB, the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program, has reached more than 3,900 participants from 134 countries and territories since 2001, with 105 former campers advancing to the NBA or WNBA.  The NBA and FIBA have staged 66 BWB camps in 43 cities across 31 countries on six continents.

 

Follow the camp using the hashtag #BWBGlobal on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  Find out more about BWB at BasketballWithoutBorders.com, on Twitter (@NBAAcademyPR) and on Instagram (@NBAAcademy).

 

 

The following is a complete list of players participating in the seventh annual BWB Global camp (rosters are subject to change):

 

Name		Country/Region
Dylan Bordon		Argentina
Juan Respaud		Argentina
Klairus Amir		Australia
Eduardo Klafke*		Brazil
Samis Calderon*		Brazil
Ulrich Kamka Chomche*		Cameroon
Christian Nitu		Canada
Hudson Ward		Canada
Felix Kossaras		Canada
Thierry Darlan*		Central African Republic
Junjie Wang*		China
Qingfang Pang		China
Wei Lun Zhao		China
Rodrigo Aybar		Dominican Republic
Paul Kabenga Mbiya*		Democratic Republic of the Congo
Parby Kabamba Musongela*		Democratic Republic of the Congo
Seifeldin Kaidar Ahmed Youssef Hendawy*		Egypt
Miro Little		Finland
Ilane Fibleuil		France
Pacome Dadiet		France
Killian Malwaya		France
Tidjane Salaun		France
Alexandros Samodurov		Greece
Ibrahim Souare		Guinea
Mohammad Amini		Iran
Taiga Okada		Japan
Karim Rtail		Lebanon
Matas Buzelis		Lithuania
Motiejus Krivas		Lithuania
Mathias M'Madi		Madagascar
Jesus Santi Ochoa*		Mexico
Dontae Russo-Nance		New Zealand
Churchill Abass*		Nigeria
Ruben Prey		Portugal
Ousmane N'Diaye		Senegal
Modou Fall Thiam*		Senegal
Bogoljub Markovic		Serbia
Nikola Topic		Serbia
Aday Mara		Spain
Elliot Cadeau		Sweden

 

*NBA Academy Prospect

 

###

 

ESPN, NBA Announce Star-Studded Rosters for 2023 Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game

• Coaches: Two-Time NBA MVP and NBA All-Star Game Captain Giannis Antetokounmpo, His Brothers Thanasis and Alex Antetokounmpo and Olympic Gold Medalist Lindsey Vonn take on Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and Two-Time WNBA Champion Lisa Leslie, Rapper and Actor Fat Joe and Houston Astros Third Baseman Alex Bregman
• Team Captains: Utah Jazz Governor Ryan Smith and Three-Time NBA Champion and Jazz Minority Owner Dwyane Wade
• Celebrity Participants: Comedian Hasan Minhaj, Recording Artists 21 Savage, Cordae, Janelle Monáe, Kane Brown, Nicky Jam, Ozuna and Actors Simu Liu, Everett Osborne, Ranveer Singh and Sinqua Walls
• Exclusively on ESPN: Cassidy Hubbarth Returns as Host with Mark Jones, Richard Jefferson and Monica McNutt on Game Commentary

 

ESPN and the NBA today announced the rosters and coaches for the 2023 Ruffles^® NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, featuring actors, comedians, Grammy^® Award-winning musicians, athletes and more. Taking place at Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah on Friday, February 17, at 7 p.m. ET, the game will air exclusively on ESPN and be available to stream on the ESPN App. 

 

Utah Jazz team governor Ryan Smith and three-time NBA Champion and Jazz minority owner Dwyane Wade will serve as honorary captains. Two-time NBA MVP and 2023 NBA All-Star Game Captain Giannis Antetokounmpo, his brothers Thanasis and Alex Antetokounmpo and three-time Olympic Medalist Lindsey Vonn will coach for Team Dwyane and will take on Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and Two-time WNBA Champion Lisa Leslie, rapper and actor Fat Joe and Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman, who will coach for Team Ryan.

 

Grammy Award-winning recording artist 21 Savage, Grammy Award-winning recording artist and actress Janelle Monáe, Grammy Award-nominated recording artist Cordae, actors Simu Liu, Sinqua Walls, Everett Osborne, Latin global music icon and actor Nicky Jam and reggaeton artist Ozuna, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf, Pro Football Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson, 11-time MLB All-Star Albert Pujols, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live correspondent Guillermo Rodriguez, tennis star Frances Tiafoe, WWE Superstar The Miz, Brazilian TV host Marcos Mion and content creator Jesser will make their first Celebrity Game appearances.  

 

Peloton coach and Puma athlete Alex Toussaint will return as the reigning MVP, while comedian Hasan Minhaj and five-time American Music Award winner Kane Brown will appear in their third Celebrity Game and actor and NBA brand ambassador for India Ranveer Singh in his second. Each team will also feature a WNBA star, with two-time WNBA All-Star and Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale and WNBA Champion and Phoenix Mercury All-Star Diamond DeShields on opposing rosters. 

 

2023 Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game Rosters

Team Ryan	Team Dwyane
Ryan Smith (Utah Jazz governor and honorary captain)	Dwyane Wade (NBA champion, Utah Jazz minority owner and honorary captain)
Kane Brown (5-time American Music Award winner)	Nicky Jam (Latin global music icon and actor)
Cordae (rapper, recording artist)	Jesser (content creator)
Diamond DeShields (WNBA All-Star; Phoenix Mercury)	Simu Liu (actor)
Calvin Johnson (former NFL player)	Hasan Minhaj (comedian)
Marcos Mion (TV host)	DK Metcalf (NFL player)
The Miz (WWE Superstar)	Janelle Monáe (actress, singer, songwriter)
Albert Pujols (MLB Player)	Arike Ogunbowale (WNBA All-Star; Dallas Wings)
Everett Osborne (actor)	21 Savage (rapper, recording artist)
Ozuna (rapper, recording artist)	Ranveer Singh (actor and NBA Brand Ambassador for India)
Guillermo Rodriguez (ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live correspondent)	Frances Tiafoe (tennis player)
Sinqua Walls (actor)	Alex Toussaint (Peloton coach and Puma athlete)

 

New this year, each team captain will have the ability to activate “Ruffles Crunch Time”, which starts a two-minute period where point values are doubled. Additionally, Celebrity Game’s “Unlock a Legend” feature will return in 2023, giving a team the ability to add a legendary NBA player to their roster mid-game.  For more on the event, visit the NBA’s Celebrity Game site.

 

Throughout the game, captains Ryan Smith and Dwyane Wade and team members will also compete in gameplay activations, including shooting from the fan-favorite Ruffles 4-Point Ridge Line, to raise up to $100,000 to benefit 5 For The Fight Cancer Research Internship in partnership with Howard University. 

 

ESPN Broadcast Team

ESPN’s Cassidy Hubbarth returns to serve as host for the broadcast, including for the MVP trophy presentation. Hubbarth will also make player introductions and conduct special interviews with players, coaches, celebrities and other event attendees. Mark Jones will provide play-by-play commentary for the game, alongside analysts Richard Jefferson and Monica McNutt.

 

NBA COMMISSIONER ADAM SILVER’S STATEMENT REGARDING LEBRON JAMES

 

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 7, 2023 – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement regarding the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer:

 

“Congratulations to LeBron on breaking one of the most hallowed records in all of sports by becoming the NBA’s all-time scoring leader.  It’s a towering achievement that speaks to his sustained excellence over 20 seasons in the league.  And quite amazingly, LeBron continues to play at an elite level and his basketball history is still being written.”

NBA BOARD OF GOVERNORS APPROVES SALE OF THE PHOENIX SUNS AND MERCURY TO OWNERSHIP GROUP LED BY MAT ISHBIA

 

NEW YORK, Feb. 6 – The NBA Board of Governors has approved the sale of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury to an ownership group led by Mat Ishbia, Chairman, President and CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage.  The transaction is expected to close this week.

NBA AND NBPA AGREE TO EXTEND CBA OPT-OUT DEADLINE

 

NEW YORK, Feb. 6, 2023 – The NBA and NBPA have mutually agreed to extend the deadline to opt out of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) from Feb. 8, 2023, to March 31, 2023, as the two sides continue negotiations to reach a new agreement.  If either party exercises the opt-out, the CBA’s term will conclude on June 30, 2023.

 

Sunday, March 5, 2023

• The Milwaukee at Washington game, previously scheduled for March 6, will be played at 7:30 PM ET.

 

Monday, March 6, 2023

• The Portland at Detroit game, previously scheduled for March 7, will be played at 7:00 PM ET.

 

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

• The Washington at Detroit game, postponed from February 1, will be played at 7:00 PM ET.

 Regresa de una lesión el capitán de los Grises de Humacao de la Liga de Baloncesto Puertorriqueña, Samuel Delgado

(Humacao P.R.) – Luego de sufrir una lesión de tobillo y tener que estar fuera de las canchas en los últimos 6 partidos, el escolta Samuel I. Delgado Rosario estará oficialmente de vuelta al tabloncillo de los Grises de Humacao de la Liga de Baloncesto Puertorriqueña. Su regreso a cancha será para el partido del sábado, 11 de febrero, cuando Humacao reciben la visita de los Mulos de Juncos desde las 8:00 de la noche, en la histórica y legendaria Cancha Emilio E. Huyke.

El apoderado de los Grises, Orlando J. López Rivera dejó saber que en los diez partidos que participó, Delgado tuvo promedios de 13 puntos, 5 rebotes, 3 asistencias y 24 minutos por juego, incluyendo su gran aportación en defensa y su acostumbrado liderazgo en cancha.

“Primero que todo, le quiero agradecer a Dios por permitirme estar nuevamente en la cancha. Ayer fue la primera práctica después de un cierto tiempo y me sentía ansioso, pero contento por volver a la cancha con mis compañeros. Observar el juego desde el banco me ayudó a ver el partido desde otra perspectiva y espero poder poner en práctica todo lo que pude apreciar en ese tiempo. También le quiero agradecer a nuestros (“Trainers”) Pedro “PJ” Alamo & Carlos Santana y al Apoderado Orlando López, que desde el día uno siempre estuvieron pendiente a mi e hicieron todo lo posible para que estuviera recuperado lo antes posible. A MFQ (Quiropráctico), al Dr. Josué Vázquez (MRI), Rubén “Conejo” López y a Luis Cruz, gracias a todos por aportar sus conocimientos en mi recuperación. ¡Nos vemos pronto familia!”, expresó Delgado Rosario.

Para más información pueden comunicarse al (787) 949-4704, en Facebook e Instagram: Grises de Humacao LBP o al correo electrónico grisesdehumacaolbp@gmail.com.

Spain legend Pau Gasol named Global Ambassador for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023

FEBRUARY 6 MIES (Switzerland) - International basketball icon Pau Gasol has been named a FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Global Ambassador. With FIBA's flagship men's event getting underway in 200 days in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia, Gasol will be on hand at a championship he knows very well.

Pau Gasol | FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Global Ambassador

Gasol made a huge splash at his first World Cup in 2002 in Indianapolis, leading Spain to fifth place. He ended up as the tournament's sixth leading scorer, averaging more than 19 points per game. Gasol's biggest moment with Spain came when he spearheaded his country's run to glory at the 2006 World Cup in Japan. He was so prolific, averaging 21.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game while shooting a blistering 63.1 percent from the field, that he was named MVP of the event despite having to miss the Final because of injury. In his last World Cup appearance on home soil in 2014, Gasol led Spain to six straight wins before the hosts were upset by France in the Quarter-Finals. He had been so good in the tournament that Gasol again made the All-Star Five. In all, Gasol played at three World Cups, five Olympics and seven FIBA EuroBaskets. He helped Spain win silver medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and then bronze at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. In the history of the EuroBasket, Gasol is one of the most decorated players. At the EuroBaskets in 2009 and 2015, he was the MVP as Spain captured titles. In 2011, he was in the All-Star Five as his national team also reached the top of the podium. Gasol was in the All-Star Five when Spain finished runners-up at EuroBaskets 2003 and 2007 and when Spain were third in 2001 and 2017.  Even as a member of Spain's youth teams, Gasol competed and had success. He helped his country beat the USA in the Final of the 1999 World Championship for Junior Men. Looking ahead to the World Cup, Gasol, who has joined Argentina superstar Luis Scola as a World Cup Global Ambassador, knows a lot has to go right for the eventual winners. "The World Cup is the toughest trophy in basketball to win,” Gasol said. "A winning team needs character and chemistry and teammates who will pick you up when you're down." "This is a great honor for me to be a part of such a great team of basketball legends and to join Luis Scola, a true legend and one of my toughest rivals, in this role as Global Ambassador for the 2023 World Cup." Gasol was a wonderful representative for the game during his playing days and has been since his retirement after the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Only several months ago, he served as FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 Ambassador and was courtside in Sydney, supporting and promoting women's basketball. He is also a member of the International Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission. Gasol is an advisor, investor and activist in projects related to sports and well-being. NBA ANNOUNCES PENALTIES FROM MAGIC-TIMBERWOLVES GAME    NEW YORK, Feb. 4, 2023 – Orlando Magic center Mo Bamba has been suspended four games without pay and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Austin Rivers has been suspended three games without pay for their roles in an on-court altercation, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations. In addition, Magic guard Jalen Suggs has been suspended one game without pay for escalating the altercation by aggressively grabbing Rivers around the neck and pulling him to the floor. Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels has been fined $20,000 for his role in the altercation which included running into the scrum and pushing Bamba in the back. The incident, for which all four players received technical fouls and were ejected, occurred with 1:32 remaining in the third quarter of the Magic’s 127-120 win over the Timberwolves on Feb. 3 at Target Center. Bamba and Rivers engaged in an altercation in front of the Magic bench, with both players throwing punches. Suggs and McDaniels then entered the altercation as non-peacemakers, which resulted in a continued escalation of the situation. Following the incident, Bamba attempted to continue to engage with Rivers in a hostile manner in the corridor outside the locker rooms where he also aggressively shoved a security representative. Both Bamba and Rivers continued the escalation on social media following the game. Bamba will begin serving his four-game suspension and Suggs will serve his one-game suspension on Sunday, Feb. 5 when the Magic visit the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center.  Rivers will begin serving his three-game suspension on Sunday, Feb. 5 when the Timberwolves host the Denver Nuggets at Target Center. To view the incident, click on the following link: https://www.nba.com/watch/video/magic-vs-timberwolves-2-3-2023 NBA ANNOUNCES GAME SCHEDULE ADJUSTMENTS   NEW YORK, Feb. 6, 2023 – The NBA announced today that the Washington Wizards at Detroit Pistons game that was postponed on Feb. 1 has been rescheduled for March 7 at 7 p.m. ET. Additionally, two other scheduling changes were made to accommodate the rescheduling and to ensure that neither team would play three games in three consecutive nights:   ·         The Milwaukee Bucks at Washington game, previously scheduled for March 6, has been rescheduled to March 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET.   ·         The Portland Trail Blazers at Detroit game, previously scheduled for March 7, has been rescheduled to March 6 at 7 p.m. ET. FIBA Executive Committee focus on important year ahead FEBRUARY 2, 2023 MIES (Switzerland) - The FIBA Executive Committee convened today for their first meeting of 2023, an important year on the international basketball calendar, with the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 tipping off on August 25 across the three host nations of the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.    The following key topics were discussed during the meeting: FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 and Qualifiers The Executive Committee received a report on preparations for the final window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Qualifiers, which are set to be played across the four FIBA regions of Africa, Americas, Asia and Europe from February 23 to 27. To protect the integrity of the competition, several games of the last game day have been scheduled to be played at the same time. Status reports were also received on preparations for the upcoming World Cup, including the Draw, taking place in the Philippines capital of Manila on April 29. FIBA Women's Continental Cups Reports were received on the preparations for the upcoming FIBA Women's Continental Cups, which are to be played in June with the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023 and FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2023 and July and August with the FIBA Women's AmeriCup and FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2023. These events will qualify teams to the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments as well as to the newly created FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Pre-Qualifiers that will be played for the first time with 16 teams in the summer of 2024. Additionally, following a recommendation from the Competitions Commission, FIBA's Executive Committee has approved the implementation of a Player Experience Program. Based on a "Players First" approach and focusing on enhancing players' physical, emotional, and digital experiences during all aspects of their participation in a FIBA event (arrive – establish – prepare – compete – enjoy – depart), the principles of the program have been developed in view of an unprecedented investment into the Players' Experience for the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. Club Competitions  Status updates were presented to the Executive Committee on FIBA's Club Competitions, the Basketball Champions League (BCL), the Basketball Champions League Americas (BCLA), the upcoming Basketball Africa League (BAL) and the inaugural season of FIBA's newest club competition, the West Asia Super League (WASL) being played in West Asia and the Gulf regions. The launch of the Youth Basketball Champions League, a prime standalone pan-European competition for U18 teams, was also announced last month. The pinnacle event of the FIBA club competition network, the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, will be celebrated next week in Tenerife, Spain.  3x3 The Executive Committee received reports on 3x3's National Teams competitions and the professional circuit, with the first official event for the 2023 season tipping off on March 29 in Singapore with the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup. Strategic Objectives Status reports on FIBA's three strategic priorities of Empower National Federations, Women in Basketball and Enlarge FIBA Family were presented to the Executive Committee. Other matters With regard to the war in Ukraine, FIBA's Executive Committee confirmed the implementation of the Central Board decision of last December and endorsed the recent support provided by FIBA to the Basketball Federation of Ukraine in respect of their efforts to qualify for the 3x3 Basketball tournaments at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. FIBA has taken note of the recent announcements by the IOC and the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and will continue participating in the consultation process, considering the Central Board decisions and the specificities applicable to basketball as a team sport. MEMPHIS’ DILLON BROOKS SUSPENDED; CLEVELAND’S DONOVAN MITCHELL FINED   NEW YORK, Feb. 3, 2023 – Memphis Grizzlies guard-forward Dillon Brooks has been suspended one game without pay and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell has been fined $20,000 for their roles in an on-court altercation, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.   After missing a layup and falling to the floor, Brooks initiated the altercation by striking Mitchell in the groin area in an unsportsmanlike manner. Mitchell then escalated the situation by throwing the game ball at and pushing Brooks, after which both players continued to physically engage with one another.     Brooks was assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 and ejected, and Mitchell was given a technical foul and ejected.   The incident occurred with 5:48 remaining in the third quarter of the Cavaliers’ 128-113 victory over the Grizzlies on Feb. 2 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.     Brooks will serve his suspension Sunday, Feb. 5 when the Grizzlies play host to the Toronto Raptors.   To view the incident, click on the following link:  https://www.nba.com/watch/video/grizzlies-vs-cavaliers-2-2-23 NBA 2K LEAGUE AND MONUMENTAL SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT PARTNER TO HOST 2023 SEASON AT NEW DISTRICT E POWERED BY TICKETMASTER IN WASHINGTON, D.C.   - Games Tip Off March 8 and Run Through Aug. 5 -   - $2.5 Million Cash Prize Pool Across All Tournaments and the NBA 2K League 3v3 and 5v5 Playoffs –   NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 2023 – The NBA 2K League announced today that, in partnership with Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the 2023 season will be hosted at the soon-to-debut District E Powered by Ticketmaster in Washington, D.C.  Additionally, the league unveiled its complete competition schedule, which runs between Wednesday, March 8 and Saturday, August 5.  The NBA 2K League will award $2.5 million in cash prizes across THE BANNER CHAIN SERIES Powered by AT&T and Coinbase NBA 2KL 3v3 BLACKTOP SERIES tournaments, and the NBA 2K League 3v3 and 5v5 Playoffs.   Located in downtown Washington, D.C., District E Powered by Ticketmaster is adjacent to Capital One Arena, the home to the NBA’s Washington Wizards and the NHL’s Washington Capitals.  District E is a nearly 14,000-square-foot live-event theater that, in addition to the 2023 2K League season, will offer a daily series of immersive experiences in esports, music, programming, an extraordinary culinary experience and community events – along with pre- and post-game activities for fans attending Capitals and Wizards games.  For information on tickets to view NBA 2K League games live at District E, click here.   For the first time, the NBA 2K League season will be separated into 3v3 and 5v5 halves.  The 3v3 portion of the season begins with the Coinbase NBA2KL 3v3 SLAM OPEN on March 8 and finishes with the NBA2KL 3v3 Finals on Saturday, May 13.  The 5v5 competition tips off on Wednesday, May 23 with THE TIPOFF Powered by AT&T and will culminate with the NBA2KL 5v5 Finals on Saturday, Aug. 5.  For more information on the 2023 competition schedule, click here.   “Pioneers of esports since the beginning, including through their success with two-time NBA 2K League champion Wizards District Gaming, we are thrilled to partner with the Leonsis family and Monumental Sports & Entertainment to help launch their new state-‑of-‑the-‑art facility, District E Powered by Ticketmaster,” said NBA 2K League President Brendan Donohue.  “We can’t wait to make Washington, D.C. our home in 2023 and bring the excitement of the NBA 2K League to fans at District E.”   “As early investors in the NBA 2K League, we are honored to host the most elite esports athletes in the world at our new esports and entertainment facility in our nation's capital,” said Zach Leonsis, President, Media & New Enterprises at Monumental Sports & Entertainment.  “The League has designed an exciting season and we look forward to welcoming their fans and the rest of the vast gaming community from across the Mid-Atlantic to District E for a first-of-its-kind experience.  And for those new to esports, we believe we are going to turn them into die-hard fans once they see the amazing live-action in person and all the other amenities which District E will have to offer.”   “Washington, D.C. is a growing hub for the esports community with sponsorships, events, tournaments—and now the dynamic addition of the NBA 2K League.  We welcome the local, national and international athletes and fans to our city,” said Events DC President and CEO Angie M. Gates.  “Working with the NBA 2K League and Monumental Sports & Entertainment allows us to accomplish our goals of bringing cutting edge experiences that engage, excite and entertain to sports enthusiasts.”   For the second straight season, community teams from around the world will have the opportunity to participate alongside NBA 2K League teams for a share of the 3v3 tournament prize pool in the Coinbase NBA2KL 3v3 BLACKTOP SERIES.  For more information on the new combined SLAM OPEN and SWITCH OPEN qualifying event, which tipped off Jan. 28 and goes through Feb. 11, click here.  Also new for this season, the SLAM OPEN and SWITCH OPEN tournaments will use a double-elimination format.  NBA 2K League teams and community teams will qualify for the NBA 2K League 3v3 Playoffs based on their performance in the prior competitions throughout the season, with the STEAL OPEN remaining the last chance tournament for teams still trying to qualify for the 3v3 Playoffs.   THE BANNER CHAIN SERIES Powered by AT&T and the NBA 2K League 5v5 Playoffs will continue to feature only NBA 2K League teams.  All 25 teams will compete in THE TIPOFF and THE TURN.  The five top performing teams from each conference at the end of those tournaments will automatically qualify for the NBA 2K League 5v5 Playoffs.  The 15 remaining teams will compete in THE TICKET, with the winning teams from the two conferences earning the 11th and 12th spots in the Playoffs.   For more information, fans can follow the NBA 2K League on Twitter (NBA2KLeague), Instagram (nba2kleague), Facebook  (NBA 2K League), TikTok (nba2kleague), Twitch (NBA2KLeague) and YouTube (NBA 2K League) and visit NBA2KLeague.com.   About the NBA 2K League The NBA 2K League, a professional esports league co-founded by the NBA and Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO), launched in 2018 and features 25 teams and the best NBA 2K players in the world.  NBA 2K League partners include Anheuser-Busch, AT&T, Champion Athleticwear, Coinbase, Dash Radio, Google, Loco, Mondelēz International, SAP, Snickers, Sony Interactive Entertainment, SPS, Wilson and YouTube.  For more information about the NBA 2K League, visit NBA2KLeague.com.   About Monumental Sports & Entertainment Monumental Sports & Entertainment is America’s leading sports and entertainment family. Our people, players, teams, and events bring excitement and joy to millions. We invest and innovate to consistently raise the game so we can deliver extraordinary experiences that will inspire and unite our community, our fans, and our people. To learn more, please visit www.monumentalsports.com.  WIZARDS-PISTONS GAME POSTPONED   NEW YORK, February 1, 2023 – The National Basketball Association game scheduled for tonight between the Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons has been postponed.   Due to severe weather conditions in the Dallas area, the Pistons have been unable to fly back to Detroit after their game on Monday at American Airlines Center.   The date for the rescheduled game will be announced at a later time. BA FOUNDATION EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH CHILDREN’S DEFENSE FUND WITH $3.6 MILLION IN FUNDING   --Largest Grant to-Date will Support NBA HBCU Fellowship Program--   NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2023 –  The NBA Foundation has announced its largest single grant to-date to the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), totaling $3.6 million over a span of three years. Through this partnership, CDF will help identify candidates and support program management for the NBA HBCU Fellowship Program.  Launched in 2022 by the Foundation, the Fellowship provides career development opportunities in the business of basketball for undergraduate and graduate students from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).   As part of the partnership, CDF will expand learning and career development opportunities for program participants to include a robust orientation, a closing retreat at CDF’s historic Alex Haley Farm as well as social justice education in collaboration with Fearless Dialogues, a grassroots organization committed to creating unique spaces for unlikely partners to engage in hard heartfelt conversations. The programmatic elements will serve to strengthen students’ professional competencies and address the dynamics and challenges of transitioning into the workforce.   CDF envisions a nation where marginalized children flourish, leaders prioritize their well-being, and communities wield the power to ensure they thrive.  The organization was first awarded a grant from the NBA Foundation in December 2021 to support the Black Student Leadership Network, CDF’s yearlong fellowship program focused on civic education, civic engagement and servant leadership development for Black students on college campuses.  The network helps to foster the professional development of Black youth through leadership training, mentorship with prominent Black leaders, economic and career advancement and networking opportunities.  The program also serves to help the next generation of leaders identify community organizing and social change as a viable career pathway with potential for growth.   “We are excited about the expansion of our partnership with the Children’s Defense Fund to bolster the NBA HBCU Fellowship Program,” said NBA Foundation Executive Director Greg Taylor.  “CDF’s legacy of social justice and unique approach to professional development for young people of color elevated them as the perfect collaborator and will help our program step into a new model centered on youth wellbeing.”   “Through leadership development and collaboration, Children’s Defense Fund helps young people activate their power and agency,” said CDF President and CEO Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson.  “As an alumnus and cheerleader for HBCUs, I envy the hundreds of NBA HBCU Fellows who will benefit from this innovative effort the NBA Foundation, Fearless Dialogues, and our energized staff team are crafting together. We look forward to supporting them and following their lead.”   The NBA HBCU Fellowship Program spans a ten-week period from June to August where students receive hands-on experience interning in disciplines such as marketing, human resources, community relations, basketball operations, corporate partnerships and more at the NBA league office and teams.  The inaugural cohort featured 60 students representing 24 HBCUs.  In line with the Foundation’s mission to drive economic opportunity among Black youth, the Fellowship serves as an extension of the NBA’s commitment to advancing educational and career opportunities in collaboration with HBCUs for students and alumni.   Interested students can apply for the 2023 NBA HBCU Fellowship Program here until Feb. 20.   This month the NBA Foundation will award a total of $12 million in grants to 31 nonprofit organizations historically serving the Black community.  Of the 31, 12 organizations are receiving grant renewals while 19 are receiving new grants to support programming and capacity building.  To learn more about the organizations awarded funding as part of the Foundation’s eighth round of grant funding during Black History Month, click here.   For additional information about the NBA Foundation and to apply for a grant, click here. Copenhagen to host FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup 2025 FEBRUARY 2, 2023 COPENHAGEN (Denmark) – The Danish Basketball Federation will host the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup 2025 and one of the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup Qualifiers in 2024. The 10th edition of the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in September 2025 at the City Hall Square, in the heart of the City. The Danish capital will also play host to one of the FIBA 3x3 Europe Cup Qualifiers in 2024, the same year 3x3 will make their second Olympic appearance at the Paris Olympics. “We are really happy and proud of bringing the 3x3 Europe Cup to Denmark for the first time”, Kamil Novak, FIBA Europe Executive Director said. “Copenhagen and Denmark are perfect matches to 3x3 as one of the missions of this discipline is to bring basketball to the people and show that everyone can be successful in 3x3.” This is the first time that Denmark will host a major European Basketball event. The event will be organized by the Danish Basketball Federation together with Sport Event Denmark, City of Copenhagen, and Wonderful Copenhagen. "We are proud to host the 3x3 Europe Cup 2025 and the qualifier on Danish soil in collaboration with the city of Copenhagen and Sport Event Denmark. I am thrilled that for the first time in Danish basketball history we will host a major Basketball event. We get the opportunity to showcase our fantastic sport to the Danes and show our international basketball family why Denmark is unique as a host nation for major sporting events," - Chairman of the board of Danish Basketball Federation, Mads Young Christensen said. "3x3 is one of the new Olympic disciplines with high entertainment value and great street credit. Therefore, the Europe Cup 2025, the qualifier in 2024, and Copenhagen are a perfect match. Together with the Danish Basketball Federation, and Copenhagen, we are planning a vast program of side activities during the urban festival embracing the tournaments." - Lars Lundov, director of Sport Event Denmark.  Twelve men's teams and 12 women's teams will compete in Copenhagen over 3 days. They will qualify through a series of qualifiers, held in 2025, in locations to be announced at a later stage. France’s women and Serbia’s men are the reigning Europe Cup winners after their masterpiece performance in Graz, Austria on September 2022. ### Exciting, urban and innovative, 3x3 is inspired by several forms of streetball played worldwide and is considered the world’s number one urban team sport. Steered by FIBA, games see two teams of three players face off on a basketball half-court. It was played successfully for the first time in international competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and since then has benefited from the launch of a yearly city-based FIBA 3x3 World Tour and national-team FIBA 3x3 World & Continental Cups. On July 24, 2021, 3x3 made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games. For further information about 3x3, visit fiba3x3.basketball, FIBA 3x3 accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Sina Weibo, Tencent, TikTok, Twitter, Youku , YouTube and Twitch or contact 3x3@fiba.basketball.