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The NBA family (www.NBA.com<\/a>)\u00a0and the global basketball community, including the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), USA Basketball, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, the National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), will celebrate the third annual World Basketball Day on Sunday, Dec. 21 by engaging hundreds of millions of youth and fans in the U.S. and around the world through clinics, social media campaigns, in-arena activities and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n In conjunction with World Basketball Day and the 175th<\/sup> anniversary of the YMCA \u2013 where Dr. James Naismith first introduced the game of basketball in 1891 \u2013 the NBA and YMCA are announcing an extension of their longstanding relationship by collaborating on year-long youth basketball and community-focused programming that will support the YMCA and the 6 million youth it serves in the U.S. annually.\u00a0The collaboration will also feature renovations of some YMCA facilities across the country.<\/p>\n In celebration of World Basketball Day, the NBA\u2019s global and localized social and digital media channels, which reach hundreds of millions of fans globally, will feature sound bites from NBA players about what World Basketball Day means to them, along with highlights of World Basketball Day activations around the world.\u00a0Additionally, in collaboration with local federations and partners, the Jr. NBA\/Jr. WNBA and NBA Basketball School programs that reach tens of millions of youth and coaches worldwide each year will have access to a playbook with exclusive basketball training and education content.<\/p>\n Established in 2023 by the United Nations, World Basketball Day is observed annually on Dec. 21, the date Dr. James Naismith first introduced the game of basketball at the YMCA in Springfield, Mass., in 1891, and celebrates cross-cultural unity through a shared passion for the game and the values it represents. Today, basketball is the fastest-growing sport in the world and the No. 2 sport globally.\u00a0 NBA fans are encouraged to participate by tagging @ nba, @ nbacares and @ jrnba on social media using the hashtag #WorldBasketballDay.<\/p>\n World Basketball Day will also serve as a \u201c3-for-1 Day\u201d in NBA All-Star Voting.\u00a0On Dec. 21, fans with an NBA ID can submit one ballot each day via the NBA App and www.NBA.com<\/a> to have their vote count three times.<\/p>\n Below are additional World Basketball Day celebrations in the U.S. and around the world:<\/p>\n U.S.<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n International <\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Executive, Coach and Player Quotes<\/u><\/strong>:<\/strong><\/p>\n NBA Commissioner Adam Silver:<\/u><\/p>\n \u201cWorld Basketball Day takes on a special meaning this year as we commemorate the 175th<\/sup> anniversary of the YMCA, where the sport was first invented 134 years ago.\u00a0We are thrilled to join our many friends in the basketball community to celebrate the game\u2019s impact and influence around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n President and CEO of YMCA of the USA Suzanne McCormick:<\/u><\/p>\n \u201cThe YMCA and the NBA share a long-standing belief in the power of sport to build community.\u00a0As we celebrate the YMCA\u2019s 175th<\/sup> anniversary, World Basketball Day offers a meaningful moment to honor our history as the birthplace of basketball and to highlight its ongoing impact. We are honored to join the NBA in celebrating a game that inspires connection, belonging, and personal growth for millions of young people. This collaboration allows us to broaden our collective reach and ensure that the benefits of youth sports are felt in every community we serve.\u201d<\/p>\n NBA champion and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum:<\/u><\/p>\n \u201cWorld Basketball Day is a chance to celebrate the game and impact it has on people everywhere.\u00a0Basketball has had such a positive influence on my life, and I hope I can pass along the joy and skills I\u2019ve learned, both on-and-off the court, to the next generation.\u201d<\/p>\n WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert:<\/u><\/p>\n \u201cWorld Basketball Day is a powerful reminder that this game has the unique ability to unite communities in every corner of the world.\u00a0As the WNBA continues to reach new heights on the court and in culture, we are dedicated to opening more doors \u2013 expanding access, visibility and opportunity so that girls around the globe can experience the joy and possibility that basketball creates.\u00a0We are proud to stand alongside the global basketball family in championing the next generation of leaders, superstars and game-changers who will carry this sport forward.\u201d<\/p>\n NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim:<\/u><\/p>\n \u201cThe NBA G League is proud to celebrate the third annual World Basketball Day during the Winter Showcase Semifinals.\u00a0Our league remains committed to creating meaningful opportunities for players everywhere, and this celebration underscores how global that mission truly is.\u201d<\/p>\n Basketball Africa League President Amadou Gallo Fall <\/u><\/p>\n \u201cWorld Basketball Day underscores basketball\u2019s unique ability to unite people, inspire ambition, and drive positive change around the world. Through the Basketball Africa League, we are making a long-term investment in the future of the game across Africa by prioritizing leadership, education and opportunity at the grassroots and professional levels.\u00a0This year, 19 coaches from 13 countries will deliver coaching clinics to more than 600 coaches across the continent \u2013 amplifying knowledge, strengthening local ecosystems, and accelerating the growth of African basketball. We are proud to join the global basketball community and the United Nations in celebrating a game that continues to open doors and bring communities together.\u201d<\/p>\n NBA Take-Two Media CEO Andrew Perlmutter: <\/u><\/p>\n \u201cAt the NBA 2K League, we\u2019ve seen firsthand how basketball inspires connection and competition in both physical and digital arenas.\u00a0We\u2019re reminded that the values of teamwork, resilience and passion transcend borders \u2013 whether on the hardwood or in the virtual world playing hoops with friends.\u201d<\/p>\n FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis:<\/u><\/p>\n \u201cWorld Basketball Day is a time to celebrate how a shared passion for basketball continues to unite us all as one global community. It\u2019s also a time to showcase how our sport has an exciting and positive force for good \u2013 both on-and-off the court. \u00a0From the grassroots level in every corner of the world to the elite stage, that collective love and pride in what basketball gives us all is something we not only embrace but also look to grow. \u00a0We can all use World Basketball Day as an opportunity to promote the game by encouraging family, friends and colleagues to pick up a ball and join our ever-growing global basketball community.\u201d<\/p>\n USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley:<\/u><\/p>\n \u201cAs we celebrate World Basketball Day, we are grateful to be a part of the global basketball community. Every year, USA Basketball has the opportunity to have our national teams visit places around the globe, exposing American players to new cities, countries, continents, and more importantly, fans and their cultures. Further, we continue to grow the game in the U.S. through our USA Basketball Foundation and youth initiatives.\u00a0We\u2019re proud to play a role in bringing the world together through the game of basketball.\u201d<\/p>\n National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) President Charlie Baker:<\/u><\/p>\n \u201cAs the global basketball community marks World Basketball Day and the anniversary of the game\u2019s invention by Dr. James Naismith, the NCAA is proud to join the celebration. College basketball is a life-changing experience for tens of thousands of young men and women annually, and we honor the skills and lessons the game teaches off the court as well as on it. We come together with everyone who loves the global game of basketball to commemorate its beginnings on December 21st<\/sup>.\u201d<\/p>\n Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame CEO John Doleva:<\/u><\/p>\n \u201cWorld Basketball Day celebrates the impact of basketball and the game\u2019s ability to unite a global community.\u00a0This day recognizes the invention of the game in 1981 by Dr. James Naismith at the YMCA International Training Academy, here in Springfield, Mass.\u00a0The YMCA\u2019s early stewardship helped turn his modest creation into the worldwide sporting phenomenon we know it as today.\u00a0We are proud to commemorate this day by honoring the game\u2019s original values and intent while also celebrating its milestones, growth and continued legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n Indiana Pacers Head Coach and National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA) President Rick Carlisle:<\/u><\/p>\n \u201cThe NBCA is proud to stand alongside the global basketball community in celebrating World Basketball Day and the positive impact that the game has on youth and fans around the world. For decades, NBA coaches have provided training, education, and mentoring opportunities to coaches around the world. Coaches play a vital role in pushing the game forward, and the NBCA\u2019s efforts will continue to have an impact on the next generation of American and international coaches and players.\u201d<\/p>\n National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) CEO Dr. Karissa Niehoff:<\/u><\/p>\n \u201cThe NFHS is proud to join partners around the globe in celebrating World Basketball Day.\u00a0This day shines a spotlight on Dr. James Naismith\u2019s extraordinary legacy and the spirit of amateur athletics that continues to unite communities everywhere.\u00a0His creativity sparked a sport that now connects millions, inspiring teamwork, opportunity and growth for students worldwide.\u00a0Today, we honor not only the origins of the game but also the enduring impact basketball has on learning, competition and community around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
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