May 16, 2021MIES (Switzerland) - Spain won the first FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series stop of the 2021 season in Mies, Switzerland on May 15-16, 2021. There was no stopping the Spanish national team in the first official FIBA competition played at FIBA’s headquarters. The team finished with a perfect 5-0 record, including a 19-17 win in the final against Poland. They received their winner cheque from FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis. It was the first time prize money was awarded at the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series (6,000 USD for the winners, 10,000 USD overall). The speedy Sandra Ygueravide led all players in player value, finished second in scoring and received her MVP trophy from Swiss Basketball President Giancarlo Sergi. In the final, she collected one of the only two triple-fives which happened in the entire tournament with 5 points, 6 rebounds and 6 highlights. Spain finally earned first place at the Women’s Series after three second places in 2019 in Lignano, La Rochelle and Debrecen. For her first-ever appearance at the Women’s Series, Anna Pawlowska was spectacular for Poland. The 25-year-old topped all scorers with 32 points in 6 games. The competition will be back next week in Voiron, France on May 21-22. For Spain and many other participating teams, these two events are a milestone in their preparation for the FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament, which will take place in Graz, Austria on May 26-30. Mies Stop Final Standings
1. Spain
2. Poland
3. Russia
4. Switzerland
5. Netherlands
6. Romania
7. Hungary
8. Mongolia
### 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 9 June 2017, 3x3 was added to the Olympic Program, starting from the Tokyo Games. Wilson is the Global Ball and Apparel Partner and Tissot the Official Timekeeper of FIBA 3x3. FIBA 3x3 events are played on Enlio floors with Wilson balls, Schelde backstops, and the Magic Sky canopy system. The following is being sent on behalf of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Carol Stiff Wins Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s 2021 John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award Springfield, Mass. (May 16, 2021) – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame today announced Carol Stiff as the winner of the 2021 John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award. Stiff, ESPN’s Vice President of Women’s Sports Programming, will be honored at Enshrinement Weekend in September 2021. The Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award was instituted by the Basketball Hall of Fame’s Board of Trustees in 1973 and is the most prestigious award presented by the Hall of Fame outside of Enshrinement. Named in honor of Hall of Famer John W. Bunn (Class of 1964), the first chairman of the Basketball Hall of Fame Committee who served from 1949-1964, the award honors coaches, players and contributors whose outstanding accomplishments have impacted the high school, college, professional and international game. A complete list of previous winners can be found in the attached document. “The Basketball Hall of Fame is pleased to recognize Carol Stiff as the recipient of this year’s Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “For several decades, Carol has been at the forefront of advocating for women’s sports media coverage and support, especially basketball. We appreciate her leadership in this space and look forward to honoring her this fall.” In 30-plus years at ESPN, Stiff has become one of the most influential people in women’s college sports, particularly in basketball where ESPN has held exclusivity on the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament since 1996. She returned to the programming department in 2016, after joining the espnW team in 2013 as vice president, content program and integration. As vice president, women’s sports programming, Stiff leads the company’s efforts in NCAA women’s basketball and the WNBA, as well as integrating women’s sports content across all ESPN platforms.
Stiff previously worked for 22 years in ESPN’s programming department, ultimately advancing to vice president, programming & acquisitions in 2010. She oversaw the acquisition and scheduling of a variety of sports on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU, including NCAA women’s basketball, NCAA championships - the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship, College Football Championship Series, College World Series, Women’s College World Series, lacrosse - WNBA, professional softball and more. A member of ESPN’s employee committee in support of The V Foundation for Cancer Research, Stiff has been a leader on behalf of the company’s efforts to benefit The Foundation. She was instrumental in the development of the Jimmy V Week and in raising awareness for the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund in partnership with The V Foundation. In 2012, she was a unanimous selection to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund Board of Directors. Stiff is the current president of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and serves as a member of several professional groups including the Women’s Sports Foundation Board of Governors, Pat Summitt Alzheimer’s Advisory Board, Pat Summitt Leadership Group Advisory Board and the Collegiate Women’s Sports Awards Board of Directors. Adding to her list of credentials, Stiff will be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame as a part of the 2021 class. She was also inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Connecticut Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2009, Sports Business Journal recognized her as one of the most influential executives leading the way in women’s sports and she was awarded the 2011 WBCA Mel Greenberg Media Award for her commitment to women’s basketball and advancing the role of the media in the game. In 2013, she was recognized by the Alliance of Women Coaches, as well as a WISE Woman of the Year. Stiff was honored as one of Business Insider’s 50 Most Influential People Behind the Scenes in Sports in 2014 and in 2016 Sports Business Journal named Stiff one of 35 “Game Changers” for her role at ESPN, where she serves as a mentor to young executives. Stiff will be honored with the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award during the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend September 10-11, 2021. For further details, including ticket information, visit www.hoophall.com/Enshrinement.
The following is being sent on behalf of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2021 Revealed Today at Newly Renovated Museum Tickets for Enshrinement Festivities Available Now on Hoophall.com Springfield, Mass. (May 16, 2021) – Today at a private event held in the newly renovated Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the 16 honorees in the Class of 2021 were announced on ESPN. The Class of 2021 will be enshrined in Springfield, Mass. on Saturday, September 11. This year’s class includes nine honorees from the North American and Women’s committees: ninth-winningest coach in NBA history Rick Adelman, two-time NBA champion and 11-time NBA All-Star Chris Bosh, NBA Finals MVP and 10-time NBA All-Star Paul Pierce, the first Black NBA head coach Bill Russell, four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and NBA Champion Ben Wallace, five-time NBA All-Star and NBA Rookie of the Year Chris Webber, two-time NCAA national champion Villanova coach Jay Wright, seven-time WNBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Yolanda Griffith and seven-time WNBA All-Star and three-time WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson. Distinguished committees focused on preserving all areas from the game also selected seven directly elected enshrinees: Val Ackerman, Cotton Fitzsimmons and Howard Garfinkel from the Contributor Committee, Clarence “Fats” Jenkins from the Early African American Pioneers Committee, Toni Kukoc from the International Committee, Bob Dandridge from the Veterans Committee and Pearl Moore from the Women’s Veterans Committee. “For the first time in our history, we’ll enshrine two Classes in one calendar year,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome the Class of 2021 to Springfield – the Birthplace of Basketball – where we can celebrate them and honor their remarkable achievements and contributions to the game.” The Class of 2021 Enshrinement festivities will begin at Mohegan Sun on Friday, September 10 with the Enshrinement Tip-Off Celebration and Awards Gala. The Class of 2021 and returning Hall of Famers will then journey to Springfield, Mass. for the annual celebratory events taking place at the newly renovated Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and MassMutual Center on September 11. Premium Sponsors of Enshrinement 2021 include Nike, Baron Championship Rings, Mohegan Sun and Panini. Tickets for the 2021 Enshrinement Ceremony and all Enshrinement events are on sale now and available online at www.hoophall.com or by calling the Basketball Hall of Fame at (413) 231-5513. As the health and safety of Hall of Famers, fans and staff is of the utmost importance, the Basketball Hall of Fame is monitoring the COVID-19 situation closely and will provide appropriate health and safety measures for all events. THE NAISMITH MEMORIAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2021 North American Committee: RICK ADELMAN [Coach] – Adelman coached in the NBA for more than three decades, compiling an overall head coaching record of 1042-749 (.582). His teams reached the playoffs in 16 of his 23 seasons at the helm and he led the Portland Trail Blazers to two NBA Finals (1990, 1992). Adelman ranks ninth all-time in NBA career wins, including two 60-win seasons and 11 50-win seasons. He reached 200 wins in just 288 games, a record at the time. Adelman is a three-time NBA All-Star Game head coach (1991, 2001, 2003). He coached several Hall of Fame players including Clyde Drexler, Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, Dikembe Mutombo, Chris Mullin and Drazen Petrovic. CHRIS BOSH [Player] – Bosh is an 11-time NBA All-Star (2006-2016) and a two-time NBA Champion with the Miami Heat (2012, 2013). In 13 NBA seasons, he averaged 19.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Drafted by the Toronto Raptors, he was a member of the NBA All-Rookie Team in 2004. As a collegiate athlete at Georgia Tech, Bosh earned ACC Rookie of the Year in 2003. As a high school standout in 2002, Bosh was named Texas Mr. Basketball and a McDonald’s All-American, while leading Lincoln High to a state and national championship with a 40-0 record. On the international stage, Bosh won an Olympic gold medal in 2008. PAUL PIERCE [Player] – Pierce is a 10-time NBA All-Star (2002-06, 2008-2012) and 2008 NBA Champion with the Boston Celtics. In 2008, he was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. After 19 seasons in the NBA, Pierce ranks ninth all-time in free throws made and three-point field goals made, as well as 19th all-time in NBA scoring with 26,397 points. Drafted by the Celtics, Pierce was named a member of the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1999. As a Kansas Jayhawk, he was a unanimous First Team All-American in 1998. With Inglewood High, Pierce was named California Mr. Basketball and a McDonald’s All-American in 1995. His number 34 is retired by the Boston Celtics and Kansas Jayhawks. BILL RUSSELL [Coach] – Following the retirement of legendary Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach in 1966, Bill Russell became the first Black head coach in the NBA. In his second season as player-coach, Russell led the Boston Celtics to the 1968 NBA championship, thus becoming the first Black head coach to win an NBA title. The following season, Russell would again lead Boston to the NBA Finals and championship, his eleventh and final ring. With the Celtics, Seattle SuperSonics and Sacramento Kings, he compiled an NBA coaching record of 341-290 (.540), with a playoff record of 34-27 (.557). As a player-coach, Russell was named the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year in 1968. Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1975. BEN WALLACE [Player] – Wallace is a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006), four-time NBA All-Star (2003-06) and NBA Champion with the Detroit Pistons (2004). He earned NBA All-Defensive Team honors five times (2002-2006) and All-NBA Second Team three times (2003, 2004, 2006), while leading the NBA in rebounds per game (2002, 2003) and blocked shots (2002). As a collegiate athlete at Virginia Union University, Wallace was a CIAA Tournament Champion and Tournament MVP in 1995 and a Division II First Team All-American in 1996. CHRIS WEBBER [Player] – Webber is a five-time NBA All-Star (1997, 2000-2003) and the 1994 NBA Rookie of the Year. He earned All-NBA First Team honors in 2001 and All-NBA Second Team three times (1999, 2002, 2003). He led the NBA in rebounds per game during the 1998-1999 season and averaged more than 20 points per game for nine consecutive seasons (1994-2003). As a member of the “Fab Five,” Webber led University of Michigan to two Final Four appearances (1992, 1993) and was a Unanimous First Team All-American in 1993. As a high school phenom at Detroit Country Day School, he was named the McDonald’s All-American Game MVP, Michigan’s Mr. Basketball, and the Naismith Prep Player of the Year in 1991. JAY WRIGHT [Coach] – Wright is a two-time Naismith National Coach of the Year (2006, 2016), six-time Big East Conference Coach of the Year (2006, 2009, 2014-16, 2019) and the first coach in NCAA history to lead a team to four consecutive 30-win seasons. He led Villanova to two NCAA national championships (2016, 2018) and eight Big East regular season championships (2006, 2014-17, 2019-2021). In all, Wright has guided Villanova to three Final Fours, four Elite Eights and five Sweet Sixteen appearances. He has compiled an overall coaching record of 612-274 (.691). Wright was named the recipient of the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award in 2018. Women’s Committee: YOLANDA GRIFFITH [Player] – Griffith is a seven-time WNBA All-Star (1999-2001, 2003, 2005-2007) and two-time Olympic gold medalist (2000, 2004). She led the Sacramento Monarchs to a WNBA Championship in 2005 while being named to the All-WNBA First Team and WNBA All-Defensive First Team the same year. In 1999, Griffith earned WNBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, while leading the league in field goals, rebounds, offensive rebounds and steals per game. Griffith was named a member of the WNBA’s All-Decade Team in 2006 and the Top 20 Players in the league’s 20-year history in 2016. She began her pro career in the ABL, earning Defensive Player of the Year and All-ABL First Team in 1998. As a student athlete at Florida Atlantic University, Griffith earned WBCA Division II Player of the Year in 1993. LAUREN JACKSON [Player] – Jackson is a seven-time WNBA All-Star (2001-2003, 2005-2007, 2009) and three-time WNBA MVP (2003, 2007, 2010). She led the Seattle Storm to WNBA Championships in 2004 and 2010, while collecting WNBA Finals MVP honors in 2010. In 2007, Jackson was named the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, while leading the league in rebounding and points per game. Jackson was named a member of the WNBA’s All-Decade Team in 2006 and the Top 20 Players in the league’s 20-year history in 2016. As a superstar of the WNBL, Jackson is a five-time All-Star (1999-2004), four-time MVP (1999, 2000, 2003, 2004) and four-time Grand Final MVP (2002, 2003, 2006, 2010). With the Australian national team, she is a three-time Olympic silver medalist (2000, 2004, 2008). Contributor Committee Direct Elections: VAL ACKERMAN [Contributor] – Ackerman is widely regarded as a trailblazing basketball executive and significant contributor to women’s and men’s basketball on the collegiate, professional and international level. She served as WNBA President from the league’s inception in 1996 to 2005 and USA Basketball’s first female President from 2005-2008. Since 2013, Akerman has led the BIG EAST Conference as Commissioner, launching several initiatives including BIG EAST Serves, the Digital Network, the Student-Athlete Well-Being Forum, and winning two NCAA basketball national championships. Akerman is a recipient of the John Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award (2008), the Edward Steitz Award (2013) and the Women’s Sports Foundation Billie Jean King Award (2016), as well as an enshrinee of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (2011). COTTON FITZSIMMONS [Contributor] – Recognized posthumously, Fitzsimmons was a two-time NBA Coach of the Year (1979, 1989) and is one of 15 coaches with 800 or more victories. He coached five NBA franchises, most notably the Phoenix Suns to four straight 50-win seasons. He led his teams to 12 NBA playoff appearances, including three Western Conference Finals appearances. Fitzsimmons’ Hall of Fame players include Charles Barkley, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Walt Bellamy, Pete Maravich, JoJo White and Artis Gilmore. Prior to the NBA, he was named Big 8 Coach of the Year, leading Kansas State to the Sweet Sixteen (1970). He also guided Moberly Junior College to two junior college national championships (1966, 1967). Fitzsimmons is an enshrinee of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame (1981) and National Junior College Hall of Fame (1985). HOWARD GARFINKEL [Contributor] – Honored posthumously, Garkfinkel is recognized as the Co-Founder and longtime director of Five-Star Basketball Camp, which revolutionized scouting, recruiting, and coaching development. Hall of Famers who served as Five-Star Camp Counselors include Hubie Brown, John Calipari, Bobby Knight and George Raveling. Several Five-Star alumni would also go on to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame including Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Chris Mullin, Isiah Thomas, Dominique Wilkins, Grant Hill and Tim Duncan. Five-Star’s drill-station style became the standard for basketball camps and countless participants went on to play in the NBA. Prior to Five-Star, Garfinkel started High School Basketball Illustrated in 1965, the first high school scouting report. He was inducted into the Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013. Early African American Pioneers Committee Direct Elect: CLARENCE “FATS” JENKINS [Player] – Recognized posthumously, Jenkins was a two-sport professional athlete in both baseball and basketball in the 1920’s and 1930’s when both sports were racially segregated. A native of New York City, he played basketball for the St. Christopher's Club youth team and then for the first teams that were named "Colored Basketball World's Champions" in 1917, 1918 and 1919. Jenkins then went on to play for the New York Incorporators, the Loendi Big Five, the Commonwealth Big Five and eventually the renowned New York Renaissance where he served as team captain. The Colored Basketball World Championships were won by his team for eight straight years, even though he moved twice to three different teams. Standing at just 5’7” and 170 pounds, Jenkins was admired for his ability to remain poised and guide his team, while always aspiring for excellence. International Committee Direct Elect: TONI KUKOC [Player] – Kukoc is a three-time NBA Champion (1996-98) and an NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1996). He played in the NBA from 1993 to 2006 and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 1994. He is a five-time Euroscar European Player of the Year (1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1998) and three-time EuroLeague MVP (1990, 1991, 1993). With Yugoslavia, he earned a FIBA World Championships gold medal (1990) and a silver medal in the 1988 Olympics. He also earned a silver medal in the Olympics with Croatia (1992). He was named the FIBA World Championships MVP (1990) and is on the list of FIBA’s 50 Greatest Players (1991). Veterans Committee Direct Elect: BOB DANDRIDGE [Player] – Dandridge was a premier player of the 1970s during his 12-year professional career in the NBA. With the Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Bullets, he won NBA Championships in 1971 and 1978 respectively. Dandridge is a four-time NBA All-Star (1973, 1975, 1976, 1979). He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1970 and All-NBA Second Team and NBA All-Defensive Team in 1979. A native of Richmond, he played collegiately at Norfolk State College from 1965-69 where he averaged 22.6 points and 13 rebounds per game. In 1969, he earned several CIAA honors including All-Conference, All-Tournament and Tournament MVP while averaging 32.8 point in his senior season. Women’s Veterans Committee Direct Elect: PEARL MOORE [Player] – As a four-time AIAW Small College All-American from 1975-1979 at Francis Marion College, Moore scored 4,061 points, making her the women’s college basketball all-time leader in points scored. She averaged 30 points per game and scored in double figures in all 127 college games she played. In 1979, Moore was named American Women’s Sports Foundation Small College Player of the Year, South Carolina AIAW Player of the Year and South Carolina Amateur Athlete of the Year. As a pro, she played two seasons in the WBL and was named an All-Star in 1981. Moore is an enshrinee of the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame (2000). About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit www.hoophall.com, follow @hoophall #21HoopClass or call 1-877-4HOOPLA. Basketball Hall of Fame Media Contact: Nicole Taylor, Position Sports // mediarelations@positionsports.com PHILADELPHIA’S HOWARD SUSPENDED NEW YORK, May 14, 2021 – Philadelphia 76ers center Dwight Howard has been suspended one game without pay for receiving his 16th technical foul of the 2020-21 season, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations. Under NBA rules, a player or coach is automatically suspended without pay for one game once he receives his 16th technical foul during a regular season. For every two additional technical fouls received during that regular season, the player or coach will be automatically suspended without pay for an additional game. Howard received his most recent technical foul with 10:19 remaining in the second quarter of the 76ers’ 106-94 loss to the Miami Heat on May 13 at AmericanAirlines Arena. Howard will serve his suspension tonight when the 76ers play host to the Orlando Magic at Wells Fargo Center.
BASKETBALL AFRICA LEAGUE UNVEILS TEAM ROSTERS AHEAD OF INAUGURAL SEASON - BAL Rosters Feature 154 Players from 24 Countries Across Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the U.S. - - Rwanda’s Patriots Basketball Club to Face Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers in First BAL Game on May 16 at 4:00 p.m. CAT / 10 a.m. ET - DAKAR, SENEGAL, May 14, 2021 – The Basketball Africa League (BAL) today unveiled the rosters of all 12 BAL teams ahead of the league’s inaugural season, which tips off Sunday, May 16 at 4:00 p.m. CAT / 10 a.m. ET at the Kigali Arena in Rwanda. BAL rosters feature 154 players from 24 countries across Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the U.S.* Each of the 12 teams, which come from 12 African countries, will have up to 13 players (12 active and one inactive), at least nine of whom are citizens in their respective team’s home country and up to four of whom are from other countries, with no more than two players per team from outside of Africa. Ben Uzoh, who joined Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers, is poised to become the first former NBA player to play in the BAL, having played for the New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors from 2010-12. He was also a member of the Nigeria Senior Men’s National Team at the 2016 Olympics, FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 and FIBA AfroBasket in 2013 and 2015. Nine players bring NBA G League experience to the BAL’s first season: Brandon Jay Costner and Prince Ibeh (Rwanda’s Patriots BBC); Myck Kabongo and Demarcus Holland (Mozambique’s Ferroviàrio de Maputo), Ibrahima Thomas (Mali’s AS Police); Uzoh, Taren Sullivan and Robert Christopher Daniels (Rivers Hoopers); and Ater Majok (Tunisia’s US Monastir). Twenty-one BAL players have NCAA Division 1 experience, with 11 of the 12 teams featuring at least one former Division 1 player. BAL teams feature a combined 19 players who previously participated in Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Africa, the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program for top prospects from across the continent, including Mohab Yasser Abdelaty Abdallatif (Egypt’s Zamalek). Abdallatif is poised to graduate from NBA Academy Africa this year and becomes the first NBA Academy prospect to play in the BAL. *Rosters are subject to change About the BAL
The BAL, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the NBA, is a new professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa. The BAL, which is headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, builds on the foundation of club competitions FIBA Regional Office Africa has organized in Africa and marks the NBA’s first collaboration to operate a league outside North America. Fans can follow the BAL @theBAL on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and register their interest in receiving more information at www.theBAL.com.
NBA CREATES ANNUAL KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR SOCIAL JUSTICE CHAMPION AWARD
– New Award to Recognize NBA Players’ Social Justice Efforts –
– Award Winner to Choose Organization to Receive $100,000 Contribution; Other Four Finalists to Select Beneficiaries to Receive $25,000 Each – NEW YORK, May 13, 2021 – The NBA today announced the creation of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion award, a new annual honor that will recognize a current NBA player for pursuing social justice and upholding the league’s decades-long values of equality, respect and inclusion. The award is named after six-time NBA champion and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The recipient will have advanced Abdul-Jabbar’s mission to drive change and inspired others to reflect on injustice and take collective action in their communities over the previous year. The winner of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion honor will select an organization to receive a $100,000 contribution on his behalf. The other four finalists will each select an organization to receive a $25,000 contribution. "I’m honored and grateful to be associated with this award that will recognize the dedicated and selfless people fighting to promote social justice for all marginalized people,” said Abdul-Jabbar. “To me, it’s another giant step in the right direction for the country and all people who value equality.” “In addition to being one of our greatest players, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has devoted much of his life to advocating for equality and social justice,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “With this new award, we are proud to recognize and celebrate NBA players who are using their influence to make an impact on their communities and our broader society.” All 30 NBA teams will nominate one player from their roster to be the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion. The finalists and winner will be selected by a committee composed of NBA legends, league executives and social justice leaders. Abdul-Jabbar has been a champion of inclusivity dating to his youth. At 17, he met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Abdul-Jabbar’s hometown of Harlem, N.Y. Inspired by King’s message, Abdul-Jabbar committed to using his influence as a visible athlete to engage on critically important social issues during the Civil Rights Movement. He attended the 1967 Cleveland Summit where Bill Russell, Jim Brown and other prominent Black athletes gathered to discuss Muhammad Ali’s refusal to serve in the Vietnam War. Abdul-Jabbar has continued to promote equality and combat discrimination in the decades since his retirement from basketball. In 2016, former President Barack Obama awarded him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. In 2009, Abdul-Jabbar created the Skyhook Foundation, aimed at providing educational STEM opportunities to underserved communities. One of the most accomplished players in NBA history, Abdul-Jabbar holds league records for regular-season MVP awards (six), All-Star Game selections (19) and career points (38,387) captured during his 20 NBA seasons playing for the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks. Abdul-Jabbar joined the NBA in the 1969-70 season after leading UCLA to three consecutive national championships. Additional details regarding the inaugural award, including the finalists and winner, will be announced during the postseason. # # # About the NBA The NBA is a global sports and media business built around four professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, the NBA G League and the NBA 2K League. The NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 215 countries and territories in more than 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 100,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents. NBA rosters at the start of the 2020-21 season featured 107 international players from 41 countries. NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass. The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 1.9 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms. Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.
WNBA Announces Innovative Blueprint, New Partnerships and Significant Prize Pool for Inaugural Commissioner’s Cup – Players to Vie for Prize Pool of Half a Million Dollars – – Commissioner’s Cup Games to Convene Fans, Players, and Partners in Local Communities for Ongoing Conversations and Programming Centered on Equality and Social Justice – – Amazon Prime Video’s First Global Partnership with a Women’s Professional Sports League Includes Streaming Rights to WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game – – Google, Deloitte and Wilson Headline Sponsors for Innovative Competition Platform – NEW YORK, May 12, 2021 – As part of the WNBA’s focus on innovation, the league will launch its inaugural Commissioner’s Cup in-season competition during the upcoming 2021 season. Conference rivalry bragging rights, a unique Commissioner’s Cup trophy and a prize pool of a half a million dollars will all be at stake when the inaugural WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game is played on Thursday, Aug. 12, at Phoenix Suns Arena in Phoenix, Ariz. The Championship Game will be the culmination of the WNBA’s first annual, in-season competition that designates a portion of regular-season games in the first half of the season – 10 per team, 60 in total– as Commissioner’s Cup play, the WNBA announced today. Exclusive live coverage of the Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game will be streamed by Amazon Prime Video as part of a multi-year agreement announced earlier today that gives Prime Video international streaming rights to 16 WNBA games per season, including nine Commissioner Cup games and the Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game. The Cup games will also serve as an opportunity to continue the WNBA’s work to foster social justice and highlight important conversations and programming centered on equality with fans, players and partners. Demonstrating their continued commitment to the WNBA during its 25th season, official sponsors and WNBA Changemakers Deloitte and Google, along with Wilson, the Official Game Ball of the WNBA, will be promoting and activating around the inaugural Commissioner’s Cup events as part of their support for the league’s innovative marketing and community-driven initiatives. “To have the Commissioner’s Cup come to life in this historic 25th WNBA season is a testament to the players, fans, partners and WNBA teams who have supported and driven innovation at the league,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “Together, we view the Commissioner’s Cup not just as a compelling competition, but as a multi-faceted platform designed to drive opportunities for broader fan engagement, create additional interest around our regular season games, convene around equity and equality themes in our WNBA markets, and provide the players with an opportunity to earn significant cash compensation.”
Regular season action will take on an added level of importance as 60 select, intra-conference “Cup games” will determine the Eastern Conference team and Western Conference team that will advance to the first ever Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game. “Cup games” will be the first home game and first road game each team plays against its five conference rivals, all set to take place in the first half of the season between Friday, May 14, and Sunday, July 11, prior to the in-season break due to the Olympic games. The complete schedule of “Cup Games” can be found here. The team from each conference with the highest winning percentage in “Cup games” will earn a berth to the Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game on Aug. 12. The title game on Aug. 12, which will refocus the spotlight on WNBA stars prior to the resumption of regular-season action for all 12 teams on Sunday, Aug. 15, will see players vie for a piece of the $500,000 prize pool. Members of the winning team will be able to earn in excess of $30,000 per player, while those on the runner-up team will have an opportunity to earn $10,000 per player. An additional $5,000 will be awarded to the MVP of the Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game. Amazon Prime Video’s WNBA coverage tips off on Saturday, May 29, as guards Chennedy Carter, Courtney Williams and the Atlanta Dream travel to the Big Apple to take on Sabrina Ionescu and newly acquired 2020 WNBA champion Natasha Howard and the New York Liberty. This matchup will be the first time Prime Video has exclusive international streaming rights to a professional basketball game. The WNBA on Prime Video will be available across hundreds of compatible devices worldwide as part of a Prime membership (excluding China, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Italy). Prime Video games will be distributed in the participating teams’ markets through the teams’ local distribution partners.
NBA AND NBPA ANNOUNCE COVID-19 TEST RESULTS NEW YORK, May 12, 2021 – Of the 497 players tested for COVID-19 since May 5, one new player has returned a confirmed positive test. Anyone who has returned a confirmed positive test, or has been identified as having been in close contact to an infected person, is isolated or quarantined until they are cleared under the rules established by the NBA and the Players Association in accordance with CDC guidance. BASKETBALL AFRICA LEAGUE ANNOUNCES BROADCAST PARTNERS AND GAME SCHEDULE AHEAD OF INAUGURAL SEASON - Canal+, ESPN, beIN SPORTS, NBA TV, Tencent Video, TSN, American Forces Network and Voice of America to Broadcast BAL Games Around the World - - Inaugural BAL Season Will Reach Fans in 215 Countries and Territories in 15 Languages - - Rwanda’s Patriots Basketball Club to Face Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers in First BAL Game on May 16 at 10:00 a.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. CAT - DAKAR, SENEGAL, May 12, 2021 – The Basketball Africa League (BAL) today announced partnerships with Canal+, ESPN, beIN SPORTS, NBA TV, Tencent Video, TSN, American Forces Network (AFN) and Voice of America (VOA) to broadcast BAL games throughout Africa and around the world. The inaugural BAL season will tip off Sunday, May 16 at 10:00 a.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. CAT when Rwanda’s Patriots Basketball Club takes on Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers at the Kigali Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. The other opening games in the group phase will feature Senegal’s Association Sportive des Douanes vs. Algeria’s Groupement Sportif des Pétroliers, Egypt’s Zamalek vs. Mozambique’s Ferroviàrio de Maputo, Tunisia’s Union Sportive Monastirienne vs. Madagascar’s Gendarmerie Nationale Basketball Club, Angola’s Petro de Luanda vs. Mali’s Association Sportive de la Police, and Morocco’s Association Sportive de Salé vs. Cameroon’s Forces Armées et Police Basketball. The first BAL Finals will be held Sunday, May 30 at 10:00 a.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. CAT. Canal+ and ESPN will air all 26 BAL games across Francophone and Anglophone countries and territories in sub-Saharan Africa. Canal+ will also produce and distribute original ancillary programming, including weekly magazine show “BAL Action.” VOA will broadcast 24 games, including select games in English, French, Portuguese, Kinyarwanda, Bambara and Wolof across its extensive radio network in Africa, with additional programming across its online and mobile platforms. beIN Media Group, the global sports and entertainment broadcaster, through its flagship channel beIN SPORTS, will air all 26 games in Arabic in the Middle East and North Africa, including the opening game, quarterfinals, semifinals and Finals. Select free-to-air channels throughout Africa will also air BAL games, including the opening game, quarterfinals, semifinals and Finals. In the U.S, all games will be available on ESPN+ while the opening game and Finals will also air on ESPNews. ESPN will air the opening game and Finals in select countries in Asia-Pacific, the Caribbean, Europe and Latin America, and all BAL games will air on ESPN’s digital platforms in those same regions. BAL games and programming will also be available in Canada on TSN and in China on Tencent Video. AFN, which is distributed in 168 countries and territories to American military bases and ships at seas, will air select games live and on delay throughout the season. NBA TV will broadcast 12 live games and select games on delay in the U.S. and around the world across the group phase, quarterfinals, semifinals and Finals. All BAL games will livestream on the NBA App, the official NBA website nba.com and the official BAL website, theBAL.com. “We’re excited to work with this group of world-class distribution partners to broadcast our historic inaugural season,” said BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall. “I encourage basketball fans in Africa and around the world to tune in on May 16 and throughout the season to see the best talent in Africa and beyond compete for the right to be crowned the first BAL champion.” BAL game broadcasts will utilize the NBA’s Global Statistical System (NGSS), which has been built and supported by NBA partner Genius Sports. The BAL will tip off with an 18-game group phase with the 12 teams divided into three groups of four. During the group phase, each team will face the three other teams in its group once. The top eight teams from the group phase will qualify for the playoffs, which will be single elimination in all three rounds. GROUP A | GROUP B | GROUP C | GNBC (Madagascar) | Petro de Luanda (Angola) | GSP (Algeria) | Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria) | FAP (Cameroon) | Zamalek (Egypt) | Patriots BBC (Rwanda) | AS Police (Mali) | Ferroviàrio de Maputo (Mozambique) | US Monastir (Tunisia) | AS Salé (Morocco) | AS Douanes (Senegal) |
Additional details about the BAL will be announced in the coming days. Below is the complete BAL game schedule: 2021 BAL REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE DATE | TEAM 1 | TEAM 2 | GROUP | TIME (ET) | TIME (CAT) | 16/05/2021 | Patriots BBC | River Hoopers | A | 10:00 A.M. | 4:00 P.M. | | | | | | | 17/05/2021 | AS Douanes | GSP | C | 8:00 A.M. | 2:00 P.M. | 17/05/2021 | Zamalek | Maputo | C | 11:30 A.M. | 5:30 P.M. | 17/05/2021 | US Monastir | GNBC | A | 3:00 P.M. | 9:00 P.M. | | | | | | | 18/05/2021 | Petro de Luanda | AS Police | B | 11:30 A.M. | 5:30 P.M. | 18/05/2021 | AS Salé | FAP | B | 3:00 P.M. | 9:00 P.M. | | | | | | | 19/05/2021 | GNBC | Patriots BBC | A | 8:00 A.M. | 2:00 P.M. | 19/05/2021 | Maputo | AS Douanes | C | 11:30 A.M. | 5:30 P.M. | 19/05/2021 | Zamalek | GSP | C | 3:00 P.M. | 9:00 P.M. | | | | | | | 20/05/2021 | FAP | Petro de Luanda | B | 8:00 A.M. | 2:00 P.M. | 20/05/2021 | US Monastir | River Hoopers | A | 11:30 A.M. | 5:30 P.M. | 20/05/2021 | AS Salé | AS Police | B | 3:00 P.M. | 9:00 P.M. | | | | | | | 22/05/2021 | GSP | Maputo | C | 8:00 A.M. | 2:00 P.M. | 22/05/2021 | AS Douanes | Zamalek | C | 11:30 A.M. | 5:30 P.M. | 22/05/2021 | Patriots BBC | US Monastir | A | 3:00 P.M. | 9:00 P.M. | | | | | | | 23/05/2021 | River Hoopers | GNBC | A | 8:00 A.M. | 2:00 P.M. | 23/05/2021 | AS Police | FAP | B | 11:30 A.M. | 5:30 P.M. | 23/05/2021 | Petro de Luanda | AS Salé | B | 3:00 P.M. | 9:00 P.M. |
2021 BAL PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE DATE | TEAM 1 | TEAM 2 | GAME | TIME (ET) | TIME (CAT) | | | QUARTERFINALS | 25/05/2021 | Seed 1 | Seed 4 | G19 | 11:30 A.M. | 5:30 P.M. | | 25/05/2021 | Seed 2 | Seed 3 | G20 | 3:00 P.M. | 9:00 P.M. | | 26/05/2021 | Seed 5 | Seed 8 | G21 | 11:30 A.M | 5:30 P.M. | | 26/05/2021 | Seed 6 | Seed 7 | G22 | 3:00 P.M. | 9:00 P.M. | | | SEMIFINALS | 28/05/2021 | W19 | W22 | G23 | 11:30 A.M. | 5:30 P.M. | |
First-ever FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup coming to Miami in November 2021 |
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May 12, 2021Miami (United States) – The best 3x3 national teams in the Americas will get a chance to compete for continental supremacy when they meet for the first AmeriCup in 3x3 history in Miami scheduled November 12-14, 2021.
The event will be conducted in partnership with Vaunt Inc. (Vaunt), a sports and entertainment intellectual property (IP) development company that creates and produces alternative competitions and culturally-relevant content. This historic moment marks FIBA 3x3’s return to Miami nine years after the city hosted the final of the first-ever FIBA 3x3 World Tour and commences Vaunt’s multi-year relationship as the Local Organizing Committee with FIBA for the exclusive rights to the 3x3 AmeriCup in the Americas. “The FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup will be a great enabler for us to accelerate growth of the game across our zone,” FIBA Americas Executive Director Carlos Alves said. “We’re thrilled to bring the AmeriCup 3x3 to Miami, not only because Miami is where we have our regional head office, but more importantly, the city encompasses all the main traits of our game: urban, iconic, vibrant, international and multi-cultural.”
“I became a part of the FIBA family in 2001 through my experience playing with USA Basketball,” Vaunt CEO Roger Mason Jr said. “Now as the co-founder of Vaunt whose goal is to align opportunities at the intersections of sport, technology, content and competition, my basketball journey has come full circle with this groundbreaking partnership. As a former Miami Heat player, I am excited about bringing the Americup to Miami and the impact we will make for years to come.” The participating teams will be announced at a later stage. As it is the case for every FIBA 3x3 national team official competition, the event will feature the same number of men and women’s teams, who will play alternatively on the same court in front of the same fans. |
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