NBA stars are mentoring promising young basketball players in Korea.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) announced 60 youth male and female players from the Asia-Pacific region who will participate in the 15th 'Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Asia' event, which will be held at the Singapore Basketball Centre from June 19 (Thursday) to 22 (Sunday). BWB is a global basketball development and community program jointly operated by the NBA and FIBA and is held in Singapore for the second time since 2010.
The BWB Asia 2025 camp will invite 30 male and 30 female players under the age of 17, providing an opportunity to receive direct coaching from current and former NBA/WNBA players and coaches. Participants will receive training not only on basketball skills but also on leadership, life skills, and social responsibility.
Camp participants are expected to receive professional guidance from 2024 NBA champion Derrick White (Boston Celtics), 2024 NBA All-Star Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers), Duop Reath (Portland Trail Blazers), WNBA legend Ticha Penicheiro, who is set to be inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2025, as well as current NBA assistant coaches Vinay Bhavnani (Toronto Raptors), Jared Dudley (Dallas Mavericks), Ronald Nored (Atlanta Hawks), and Khalid Robinson (Golden State Warriors).
This camp will be overseen by Patrick Hunt, president of the World Association of Basketball Coaches (WABC), who will serve as camp director, while Katherine Babcock (Memphis Grizzlies) will participate as a player trainer to support the training of the participating athletes.
BWB Asia 2025 will be part of a newly held multi-day basketball and entertainment festival in Singapore, culminating in the 'NBA Rising Stars Invitational', which will take place from June 25 to 29 at the Kallang Tennis Hub. The tournament will feature high school teams from 11 countries in the Asia-Pacific competing against each other.
Troy Justice, head of international basketball operations for the NBA, noted, "Having BWB hosted again in Singapore exemplifies the commitment to the growth of basketball in this region and country," and added, "This year will be an even more special week in conjunction with the NBA Rising Stars Invitational, and I hope it will be a meaningful time for both the participating athletes and fans."
Kimberley Gaucher, player unit manager at the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), expressed, "I am very pleased that BWB Asia is being held in Singapore this year," and stated, "Singapore has consistently demonstrated its ability to successfully host world-class sporting events, such as the FIBA Intercontinental Cup and the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup." She continued, "BWB Asia will be an excellent platform to inspire and nurture the next generation of basketball talents across the region, and I am confident that participants will learn meaningful lessons on and off the court and gain valuable experiences."
NBA All-Star Tyrese Maxey said, "I am very excited to participate in Basketball Without Borders for the first time and happy to be visiting Singapore," and added, "I look forward to connecting with the best promising players in the Asia-Pacific region and sharing my basketball knowledge and experience with them."
Participants will experience a variety of programs, including efficiency training, offensive/defensive skill training, a three-point shooting contest, 5-on-5 games, and leadership development sessions. On the final day, players who demonstrate exceptional leadership and skills will be awarded the 'Kim Bohuny Camp MVP', 'Patrick Baumann Sportsmanship Award', 'Three-Point Champion', and 'Defensive MVP' among male and female participants.
As part of BWB Asia 2025, an NBA youth clinic will be held on June 20 (Friday) for youth from SportCares, a sports social contribution organization under Sport Singapore, and a coaching clinic in collaboration with FIBA is also planned for June 21 (Saturday).
Nike, which has been a global partner of BWB since 2002, will provide apparel and shoes to all participants.
Since its inception in 2001, BWB has produced over 4,600 participants from 144 countries and regions worldwide, of which 132 have entered the NBA or WNBA. Notable examples include Josh Giddey (Chicago Bulls; Australia; BWB Asia 2018, BWB Global 2020), Josh Green (Charlotte Hornets; Australia; BWB Global 2018), and Rui Hachimura (LA Lakers; Japan; BWB Global 2016). The NBA and FIBA have held a total of 79 BWB camps across 33 countries and 53 cities on six continents.
For more information about the NBA Rising Stars Invitational and the related basketball and entertainment festival, visit NBA.com/RisingStarsInvitational and the official Instagram account.
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