2025 Year in Review
In 2025, Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA International and NBA Basketball School programs celebrated milestones across the globe with participation from youth, coaches, and referees across 193 countries. More than 950K youth stepped onto the court, whether for the first time or returning to continue their journey. Coaches and referees sharpened their craft through clinics, academies, and development sessions, reinforcing the message that basketball is more than a game but a force that inspires and connects people everywhere.
Across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Canada, China, India, Europe, Middle East, and Latin America, communities rallied around the game, demonstrating the collective momentum in driving the NBA’s mission and using basketball as a unifying language to inspire, educate, and empower the next generation of youth players, coaches, referees, and administration on and off the court.
Several marquee moment’s anchored the year and amplified regional momentum. As part of NBA Global Games over 15K participants engaged in a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Week in Abu Dhabi and a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Week in Paris.
Africa’s Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA programming featured 70 events across 10+ countries and empowered coaches through initiatives like the Africa Women’s Coaching Program. The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Coaches Academy E-learning Module provided over 100K PE teachers, in Latin America, with the tools to implement basketball into their classes.
NBA BASKETBALL SCHOOL
In 2025, NBA Basketball School continued its upward trajectory, expanding its footprint and deepening its impact across the globe. With new partners launching programming in eight additional countries across Africa, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East, the initiative now reaches youth in 23 countries—each one contributing to the shared mission of using basketball as a tool for growth, connection, and opportunity.
Two signature NBA Basketball School Experiences brought together players, coaches, and partners for unforgettable moments of international travel, cultural exchange, and high-level training. These experiences not only elevated the game on the court but also fostered lifelong memories and friendships off it.
In October 2024, the NBA Basketball School Abu Dhabi Tournament Experience welcomed boys and girls divisions with nine teams representing three countries. Participants immersed themselves in a holistic basketball journey—competing in games, visiting the Grand Mosque, attending the Denver Nuggets vs. Boston Celtics preseason matchup, engaging with NBA District activations, meeting NBA and WNBA legends like Bill Bayno, Marcus Camby, Mitch Richmond, and Sylvia Fowles, and playing on the NBA court at Etihad Arena.
In January 2025, the NBA Basketball School Paris Camp Experience brought together 112 participants from nine countries—France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Lebanon, Portugal, Qatar, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates. Led by Camp Director Chris Oliver, players took part in four dynamic training sessions, attended the Indiana Pacers vs. San Antonio Spurs game, explored NBA House activations, and had the rare opportunity to play on the NBA court at Accor Arena. NBA Legends Danilo Gallinari and Ian Mahinmi added to the excitement, joining sessions and inspiring the next generation.
YOUTH SAFETY
At the heart of every initiative is a commitment to youth safety and wellbeing. Reaching more than 100 countries in every language, the NBA's youth safety program creates a Better Basketball Experience that allows International Youth Development programs to continue to flourish as both a tool for skill development and a safe space for youth players, coaches, and referees to grow in confidence, resilience, and leadership.
Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA International
AFRICA
In 2025, NBA Africa continued to build momentum across the continent. The Africa Basketball Operations team delivered 17 Jr. NBA Leagues across Egypt, Angola, Mozambique, Morocco, and South Sudan. From Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Combines and Drafts to season play and Finals, these leagues create a platform for youth to grow through the game.
Over 450 girls participated in five Her Time To Play Clinics (Nigeria, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa) and a Her Time To Play Elite Camp (South Africa). The clinics were designed to create space for girls to build leadership skills on and off the court. The camp was aligned with National Women’s Day.
The Africa Basketball Operations team delivered 15 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Coaches Clinics (Nigeria, Kenya, Angola, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Sudan, Egypt, and Online). These programs focused on values, technical skills, and giving coaches the tools to build confidence, character, and basketball fundamentals in youth basketball in their communities.
The team also delivered a series of six Africa Women’s Coaching Program Clinics - Online featuring coaches from the WNBA (Cheryl Reeve, Rebekkah Brunson, Noelle Quinn, Ebony Hoffman, Ty Ellis, Zach O'Brien, Nate Tibbetts, and Landon Tatum) who shared insights on leadership, technical instruction, and navigating coaching pathways. The clinics were designed to be interactive and practical, giving African women coaches direct access to mentorship, strategy, and tools to lead confidently.
Additionally, the team executed two Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Elite Camps. Over 70 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Clinics engaged 25K youth across 10 countries. Three Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA In-School Programs reached thousands of youth in Angola and Kenya, connecting basketball to education and everyday learning.
ASIA-PACIFIC
The Asia-Pacific Basketball Operations team executed a slate of programs across Singapore, the Philippines, and Hong Kong.
In Singapore, the team anchored the first-ever Rising Stars Invitational (RSI), serving as both a competitive platform and development hub. Leading up to the tournament, the team hosted the Rising Stars Invitational Qualifying Tournament in the Philippines.
To support officiating development, the team ran two Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Referees Clinics (one grassroots and one elite) providing technical instruction and mentorship to strengthen the local referee pipeline.
In collaboration with Inspiring Hong Kong, NBA Asia Basketball Operations executed a series of NBA Cares Clinics. These clinics provided an opportunity for over 200 participants, U10 – U18, to develop their basketball skills.
CANADA
NBA Canada tipped off its second season of the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA League in Winnipeg contributing to the growing league program in Canada.
Since October 2024, Canada’s Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Youth Basketball Program engaged over 11K youth participants through 180 clubs, providing year-round access to skill development, character building, and games-based activities.
As part of the first-ever regular season WNBA Canada Game presented by Tangerine, NBA Canada partnered with Air Canada, Bell, Sun Life Financial, and Tangerine to host five WNBA Partner Clinics in Vancouver. Led by NBA International Basketball Operations staff, the clinics featured WNBA legend Tammy Sutton-Brown who shared her journey and wisdom to the next generation of basketball player, reinforcing values such as hard work, self-esteem, and confidence.
Additionally, 174 referees participated in a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Referees Clinic-Online facilitated by NBA Referee Operations Bennett Salvatore.
CHINA
Across China, Jr. NBA programs engaged over 175 teams through Jr. NBA Leagues in Beijing, Liaoning, Guandong, Jilin, Shanghai, Sichuan, Jiangsu, Sichuan, and Shaanxi.
For the third consecutive year, 20 of the top boys and girls from Jr. NBA League programs were selected after a Jr. NBA Selection camp to attend a Jr. NBA International Experience during NBA Summer League. The players competed in a local youth basketball tournament, interacted with NBA teams and players, and toured local sights.
Europe
The Europe and Middle East (EME) Basketball Operations team delivered an expansive slate of Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA programs across. This season saw the launch and expansion of 157 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Leagues in Europe alone. The EME team hosted larger league programs like England (24 leagues) and Scotland (10 leagues) to developing leagues across Georgia, Albania, Serbia, Turkey, Lithuania, Poland, and Netherlands. Leading the region, Italy had an impressive 69 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA League programs.
Beyond league play, Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA programming in Europe featured a diverse mix of development. The team executed seven Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Clinics (England, France, Greece, Italy, Lithuania) and two Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Coaches Clinics (England). Competition extended through five Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Tournaments hosted in England, France, Serbia, and Spain. In partnership with the London Mrathon’s Westminster Mile, 300 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA participants and parents took part in the 2nd year of the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Mile, blending sport and community engagement.
In Serbia, six boys and girls, U14 teams, participated in the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Arena Sport Tournament. NBA European Ambassadors, Vladimir Radmanovic and Sonja Vasic.
Meanwhile, the EME Basketball Operations team also led a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Week in France during the 2025 NBA Paris Game. As a result of the week, over 8K youth, coaches, and referees participated in 88 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Clinics, four Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Coaches Clinics, four Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA 3v3 Tournaments (the national winners were recognized on the Paris Game Court at halftime), 16 Her Time To Play Clinics, and a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Workshop.
As part of the week, NBA Legends Boris Diaw and Ian Mahinmi attended several activities and interacted with the youth.
Her Time To Play engaged 1K girls through clinics that integrated the Belonging in Basketball Curriculum and a positive affirmations poster. Indiana Pacers President Mel Raines and San Antonio Spurs Director of Community Sports Yolanda Rodgers were panelist in the Her Time To Play Leadership panel. Former WNBA assistant coach, Cinnamon Lister delivered a Her Time To Play Elite Clinic for 20 local girls.
As part of the 2024 NBA Abu Dhabi Games Week, over 7K youth participated in a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Week. The Europe and Middle East Basketball Operations team hosted a variety of programs including a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Select Camp for the top 36 players from the region and a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Referees Clinic, led by Monty McCutchen (NBA Referee Operations), focusing on the fundamental principles of NBA officiating.
In addition, a Her Time To Play Day welcomed local girls aged 11-14 where NBA Commissioner Adam Silver delivered opening remarks of a 45-minute leadership panel featuring WNBA legend, Sylvia Fowles; Boston Celtics VP of Team Operations and Organizational Growth, Allison Feaster; and Content Creator, Jamaad Fiin. Following the panel, the girls participated in an on-court skill development session.
Over 150 local coaches attended two Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Coaches Clinics, where Boston Celtics Head Coach Joe Mazzulla and staff covered offensive and defensive concepts, and Denver Nuggets assistant coaches John Beckett and Charles Klask focused on player development, with Coach Bill Bayno (NBA Assistant Coach) demonstrating transition and half-court offensive drills.
Furthermore, the Europe Middle East team hosted a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA World Basketball Day Q&A Online session, a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Coaches Clinic (UAE), a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA ADK Camp (UAE), two Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Lebanon League Drafts and Leagues, and two Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Israel Leagues.
This year, the India Basketball Operations team successfully hosted a series of events engaging thousands of participants across the country.
The team hosted Jr. NBA 3v3 Tournaments in six cities, with the top boys and girls teams from each city competing in a league phase in each city. The program culminated in a Jr. NBA League Tournament in Delhi to crown a champion.
Additionally, Jr. NBA Referees Clinics were held during the Finals for beginner and advanced referees, with both being streamed live on Zoom for referees across the country.
The Jr. NBA program in India continues to make significant strides in involving youth in basketball.
LATIN AMERICA
The NBA Latin America Basketball operations team continues to deliver impactful Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA programming across Latin America including Mexico, Brazil, and the Caribbean. A standout moment this year was the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Week in the Cayman Islands, which brought together young athletes for a dynamic series of events including a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA 3v3 Tournament, Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA 3-Point Contest, Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Skills Challenge, a Her Time To Play Clinic, and an NBA Cares Clinic. This celebration of sport and community emphasized skill development, inclusion, and social responsibility.
Mexico stood out with its year-round In-School Program, reaching 83 schools and integrating basketball and Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA curriculum into schools. Coaches across LatAm also benefited from the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Coaches Academy E-learning module, which offered professional development and resources to strengthen youth instruction. On the ground, Coaches Academies in Uruguay and El Salvador helped build local capacity and leadership in youth sports.
Finally, El Salvador hosted a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Tournament, giving young athletes a chance to showcase their skills in a competitive setting. Across all these regions, the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA continue to foster inclusive, high-quality basketball experiences that develop not only athletic talent but also life skills, leadership, and community connections.