Rec Sports
NBA, global basketball community to take part in World Basketball Day
The third annual World Basketball Day will take place on Dec. 21.
NEW YORK — The NBA family and 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.
In conjunction with World Basketball Day and the 175th anniversary of the YMCA – where Dr. James Naismith first introduced the game of basketball in 1891 – 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. The collaboration will also feature renovations of some YMCA facilities across the country.
In celebration of World Basketball Day, the NBA’s 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. Additionally, 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.
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. NBA fans are encouraged to participate by tagging @nba, @nbacares and @jrnba on social media using the hashtag #WorldBasketballDay.
World Basketball Day will also serve as a “3-for-1 Day” in NBA All-Star Voting. On Dec. 21, fans with an NBA ID can submit one ballot each day via the NBA App and NBA.com to have their vote count three times.
Below are additional World Basketball Day celebrations in the U.S. and around the world:
U.S.
- The Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards will celebrate World Basketball Day through a variety of events and activities in their arenas, local markets and on their channels.
- On Dec. 13, the Gateway Region YMCA in St. Louis, which NBA champion Jayson Tatum (Celtics) attended as a child, hosted a youth basketball clinic and announced renovations to be made with support from NBA Cares and The Jayson Tatum Foundation.
- On World Basketball Day, former NBA player Taj Gibson will lead a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA clinic in New York City for 200 youth from the YMCA of Greater New York.
- On World Basketball Day, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame will host a basketball clinic in Springfield for youth from local YMCAs, led by former NBA player Michael Carter-Williams.
- The NBA, in collaboration with New York Cares, provided 150 Wilson basketballs to students across New York City as part of World Basketball Day and NBA Cares Season of Giving.
- The WNBA will highlight 21 ways to celebrate World Basketball Day on its social channels.
- The NBA G League will celebrate World Basketball Day on its social channels as part of the NBA G League Winter Showcase in Orlando, Fla.
- The NBA 2K League will celebrate World Basketball Day on its social channels and with a World Basketball Day-themed segment during the NBA 2K League Tournament 2 Finals between the Wizards and Spurs that will livestream on Twitch and take place at District E – the Wizards’ premier esports and entertainment venue. Fans and youth in attendance will also be able to play NBA 2K alongside 2K League players and creators.
- A new World Basketball Day-themed T-shirt is available for sale at NBAStore.com and Fanatics.com.
International
- On World Basketball Day, FIBA will announce the inductees to the FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
- The NBA will honor Dr. Naismith, who was born in Almonte, Ontario, Canada, on its localized channels in Canada.
- Nineteen coaches from the Africa Coaches Program – part of NBA Africa and the Basketball Africa League’s ongoing commitment to developing coaching talent across the continent – will conduct coaching clinics in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Eritrea, Gabon, Libya, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tunisia and Senegal.
- Local basketball players and content creators from Australia, Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines will be featured in World Basketball Day content across the NBA’s localized channels in those countries. The NBA Stores in the Philippines will host World Basketball Day scavenger hunts where fans can win NBA merchandise and discounts at the stores. Beginning on World Basketball Day, fans in the Philippines who purchase official NBA merchandise at the stores will also receive a complimentary World Basketball Day T-shirt while supplies last.
- Local creators and the basketball community in India will use the #WorldBasketballDay hashtag to share their favorite basketball memories on social media.
- The NBA’s localized channels in Latin America will celebrate World Basketball Day with educational content, multilingual assets and interactive posts highlighting basketball’s global impact.
Executive, Coach and Player Quotes
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver:
“World Basketball Day takes on a special meaning this year as we commemorate the 175th anniversary of the YMCA, where the sport was first invented 134 years ago. We are thrilled to join our many friends in the basketball community to celebrate the game’s impact and influence around the world.”
President and CEO of YMCA of the USA Suzanne McCormick:
“The YMCA and the NBA share a long-standing belief in the power of sport to build community. As we celebrate the YMCA’s 175th 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.”
NBA champion and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum:
“World Basketball Day is a chance to celebrate the game and impact it has on people everywhere. Basketball has had such a positive influence on my life, and I hope I can pass along the joy and skills I’ve learned, both on-and-off the court, to the next generation.”
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert:
“World Basketball Day is a powerful reminder that this game has the unique ability to unite communities in every corner of the world. As the WNBA continues to reach new heights on the court and in culture, we are dedicated to opening more doors – expanding access, visibility and opportunity so that girls around the globe can experience the joy and possibility that basketball creates. We 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.”
NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim:
“The NBA G League is proud to celebrate the third annual World Basketball Day during the Winter Showcase Semifinals. Our league remains committed to creating meaningful opportunities for players everywhere, and this celebration underscores how global that mission truly is.”
Basketball Africa League President Amadou Gallo Fall
“World Basketball Day underscores basketball’s 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. This year, 19 coaches from 13 countries will deliver coaching clinics to more than 600 coaches across the continent – 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.”
NBA Take-Two Media CEO Andrew Perlmutter:
“At the NBA 2K League, we’ve seen firsthand how basketball inspires connection and competition in both physical and digital arenas. We’re reminded that the values of teamwork, resilience and passion transcend borders – whether on the hardwood or in the virtual world playing hoops with friends.”
FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis:
“World Basketball Day is a time to celebrate how a shared passion for basketball continues to unite us all as one global community. It’s also a time to showcase how our sport has an exciting and positive force for good – both on-and-off the court. From 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. We 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.”
USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley:
“As 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. We’re proud to play a role in bringing the world together through the game of basketball.”
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) President Charlie Baker:
“As the global basketball community marks World Basketball Day and the anniversary of the game’s 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.”
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame CEO John Doleva:
“World Basketball Day celebrates the impact of basketball and the game’s ability to unite a global community. This day recognizes the invention of the game in 1981 by Dr. James Naismith at the YMCA International Training Academy, here in Springfield, Mass. The YMCA’s early stewardship helped turn his modest creation into the worldwide sporting phenomenon we know it as today. We are proud to commemorate this day by honoring the game’s original values and intent while also celebrating its milestones, growth and continued legacy.”
Indiana Pacers Head Coach and National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA) President Rick Carlisle:
“The 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’s efforts will continue to have an impact on the next generation of American and international coaches and players.”
National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) CEO Dr. Karissa Niehoff:
“The NFHS is proud to join partners around the globe in celebrating World Basketball Day. This day shines a spotlight on Dr. James Naismith’s extraordinary legacy and the spirit of amateur athletics that continues to unite communities everywhere. His creativity sparked a sport that now connects millions, inspiring teamwork, opportunity and growth for students worldwide. Today, we honor not only the origins of the game but also the enduring impact basketball has on learning, competition and community around the world.”
President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that in addition to the headline-grabbing UFC fight on the National Mall next year to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary, a host of other events will also be scheduled, including a parade and an athletic competition for high school students.
“We will host the first-ever ‘Patriot Games,’ an unprecedented, four-day athletic event featuring the greatest high school athletes — one young man and one young woman from each state and territory,” Trump said in a pre-recorded video shot from the Oval Office. “But I promise there will be no men playing in women’s sports.”
Trump said that a new nonpartisan organization called Freedom 250 would be responsible for hosting the events and coordinating with the federal agencies to deliver on events nationwide through 2026.
One of the main events will be “the first-ever Patriot Games,” which were first announced in July as part of a slate of anniversary celebrations championed by the Trump administration.
America turns 250 🇺🇸🇺🇸
President Donald J. Trump on Freedom 250 and the 2026 celebration that honors our nation like never before. WATCH: pic.twitter.com/aSaPqQ0U7m
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 18, 2025
Critics of the Trump administration were quick to point out the plan mirrored the plot of the fictional “Hunger Games” series, which depicts teenage representatives from each district of a country who are forced to fight to the death in a televised event, as part of an annual celebration of their nation’s revolution.
In a post to X on Thursday, the national Democratic Party shared a clip from the movie along with a quote: “And so it was decreed that, each year, the various districts of Panem would offer up, in tribute, one young man and woman to fight to the death in a pageant of honor, courage and sacrifice.”
The Democratic governors of California and Illinois, Gavin Newsom and JB Pritzker, also reposted the White House’s announcement with clips from the film showing the country’s fictional dictator.
“May the odds be ever in your favor,” Newsom wrote, reprising the phrase told to young Hunger Games participants in the fictional series.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment on Democrats’ “Hunger Games” comparison.
In addition to the Patriot Games, one of Freedom 250’s planned initiatives is a full illumination of the Washington Monument between New Year’s Eve and Jan. 5, “marking the start of this once-in-a-generation anniversary year,” a press release reads.
Memorial Day will be celebrated with a “Spirit of America parade” and a “National Prayer Event on the National Mall will rededicate the nation as One Nation Under God.”
In June, Flag Day will be marked with a first-of-its-kind UFC event, and toward the end of month the National Mall will be converted into the “Great American State Fair” featuring pavilions from each state.
“The event will feature a spectacular flyover by our Nation’s Military, roaring over the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial,” reads a Thursday press release. “A major address by the President of the United States will precede Salute to America: The Nation’s 250th Birthday Fireworks Celebration — the largest fireworks display in the world, illuminating the Mall in a breathtaking finale.”
SIOUX CITY (KTIV) – The Siouxland Sports Academy is planning to rock out at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino during a benefit concert event.
The benefit concert featuring Above the Covers is expected to take place on Friday, Dec. 19.
“We are very excited to be able to host this event in this great facility with this great local band to raise money for kids in need. It is very important to us that we are able to provide opportunities to kids regardless of socioeconomic status,” said SSA Executive Director Dustin Cooper.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a silent auction and social. The band performs at 7:30 p.m.
The Siouxland Sports Academy says its organization is a 501c3 nonprofit that works to create opportunities for young people in Siouxland.
The nonprofit also says 100% of the proceeds in ticket sales and at the auction will go towards financing local youth sports scholarships.
“During the concert, there will be silent auction items up for grabs that include priceless autographed sports memorabilia, unbelievable sports experiences, and at intermission of the concert, a trip to Turks and Caicos will be live auctioned!” said Siouxland Sports Academy.
Tickets are available on the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino’s website.
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Copyright 2025 KTIV. All rights reserved.
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — Eau Claire has flagged down a major sporting event for 2026: the Pylon 7on7 Flag Football Tournament is heading to the Sonnentag Field House from March 14 to 15.
The tournament — a traveling flag football tournament for high school athletes — is expected to welcome about 1,000 athletes, coaches, families and fans. Pylon 7on7 said it will welcome more than 30 teams to the Wisconsin-based event.
The Eau Claire tournament will be indoors.
Pylon 7on7 is a “critical exposure platform” for high schoolers looking to play football in college. Over the past 20 years, more than 3,000 student-athletes who have played in Pylon 7on7 committed to Division I programs. More than 300 players made it to the NFL.
“We’re extremely excited to welcome Pylon 7on7 to Eau Claire,” said Lucas Connolly, sports relationship manager for Visit Eau Claire. “This event brings elite competition to our community and provides young athletes with a platform to compete, be seen, and develop, while highlighting the Sonnentag Center as a top-tier venue for national sporting events.”
Visit Eau Claire said it expects a positive, direct economic impact from the tournament.
“This tournament is another example of how Eau Claire continues to grow as a destination for youth sports, and we are excited to partner with Visit Eau Claire to welcome Pylon 7on7 Football and the many athletes, families, and visitors who will experience our community,” said Steve Kirk, Interim General Manager of the Sonnentag Center.
Eau Claire is just one site of more than two dozen Pylon 7on7 tournaments taking place from Jan. through May 2026. Nationals will take place in Indianapolis on May 30 and 31.
TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/Gray News) – Two children in Idaho are critically injured after a tree fell on them while they were waiting for the school bus.
The Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office said high winds caused rotten trees to fall on power lines before collapsing on the children.
The kids, both under the age of 10, and an older sibling were waiting outside for their bus when the tree collapsed. According to the sheriff’s office, the older sibling was not injured.
Aaron Hudson, the Twin Falls fire deputy chief, told KTVB first responders had to first get the kids out from the tree and downed power lines before they could prepare them for transport.
The sheriff’s office said one of the children was taken to the hospital by ambulance, while the other was airlifted.
According to Hudson, the weather conditions caused difficulties during transport. He said that it prevented the helicopter from going any further than the local hospital.
The family of the children has started a GoFundMe to help cover medical expenses.
Copyright 2025 KMVT via Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
As youth sports participation costs rise and facility availability remains a bottleneck for growth, US-based 360 Hoops has announced a formal commercial rollout for 2026.
The company, which specialises in a patented three-basket hardware system and a proprietary 3v3v3 gameplay format, is positioning itself to address the primary pain point for facility operators: revenue density per square metre.
The pivot from prototype to national property follows a 2025 validation phase that included visibility on ESPN’s “The Ocho” and integration into US youth development programs.
By allowing five units to be deployed on a single standard basketball court, the system can support up to 60 active athletes simultaneously, a six-fold increase over traditional 5v5 training sessions.
Co-founder of 360 Hoops, Anthony Gomez, noted that the value proposition for club directors and private complexes hinges on this spatial efficiency.
“It really comes down to one question: how much value can you generate per square foot?” Gomez said.
The business model is built on vertical integration, combining high-margin unit sales with long-term revenue pathways including sanctioned tournament rights, licensing, and brand partnerships.
This “ecosystem” approach seeks to create a defensible category that insulates the brand from competitors—a tactic often seen in the rapid commercialisation of sports like pickleball and padel.
The organisation’s credibility is supported by the involvement of Mike Brey, an assistant coach for the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, who serves as an investor and advisor.
His presence suggests a focus on ensuring the technical skills developed in the 360-degree format are transferable to the traditional game, a necessity for long-term adoption by governing bodies and schools.
With a Year 1 target of 30 markets, the company plans to establish flagship complex partnerships before expanding into schools and community parks.
The non-stop 14-minute game format offers a high-density content opportunity that aligns with current trends in fast-paced, urban sports consumption.
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A weekend shooting at Monarch Ridge Apartments, initially investigated as a homicide, has been ruled accidental by the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. Despite the ruling, the incident has reignited concerns about safety at the complex, which has a history of violence.
Residents report that court-ordered safety measures, including surveillance cameras, license plate readers, security patrols, and a gated entrance with a guard, are now in place. However, some residents, like Dominic Lewis, believe the violence stems from outsiders. “The chaos it comes from outsiders that come up here. It’s not really the residents,” Lewis said.
The shooting involved an uncle and his nephew during a party inside an apartment. Although the incident was deemed accidental, it has drawn attention back to the complex’s safety record. Last year, the city of Birmingham filed a public nuisance lawsuit against Monarch Ridge after the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Asia Poole. The case settled in January, mandating the implementation of security measures.
While residents acknowledge the visible security improvements, some express concerns about the atmosphere they create. “I think a lot of this is really… adds to the chaos because you really… to be honest with this gate you really kind of feel in prison,” Lewis said. He emphasized the need for a more caring approach and long-term solutions, having recently met with City Attorney Nicole King to discuss potential paths forward.
The settlement includes a year-long court oversight, set to expire next month, leaving the future of these measures uncertain.
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