MUMBAI: The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced a multiyear collaboration with Sport Singapore (SportSG) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to bring a series of NBA events to Singapore. Beginning this June, the NBA, SportSG and STB will launch a new, multiday immersive basketball and entertainment festival in Singapore culminating with the ‘NBA Rising Stars Invitational’, the league’s first regional high-school basketball tournament that will feature boys’ and girls’ teams from 10 countries and territories across Asia-Pacific competing at the Kallang Alive Precinct from 25-29 June .
The announcement was made in Singapore at an event attended by NBA Asia executives, SportSG CEO Alan Goh, STB Chief Executive Melissa Ow and two-time NBA champion and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame member Chris Bosh.
Operated by the event agencies of NBA Singapore, the first annual NBA Rising Stars Invitational will feature boys’ and girls’ divisions comprised of high-school teams for youth ages 18 and under. The five-day tournament will tip off with round-robin play before advancing to single-elimination competition, with pool games taking place from 25-27 June, culminating with the semi-finals and final games on 28 and 29 June, respectively. The participating players will also take part in skill development, social responsibility programming and off-court activities promoting cultural exchange.
The basketball and entertainment festival will be headlined by a lineup of current and former NBA and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players, who will be announced ahead of event. The festival will also feature activities for fans of all ages, including community outreach initiatives, open courts, photo opportunities with authentic NBA memorabilia – such as The Larry O’Brien Trophy – player appearances and meet-and-greet sessions, clinics, as well as entertainment and interactive experiences.
The participating teams in the NBA Rising Stars Invitational will be identified in collaboration with local basketball federations and leagues, with select markets hosting local qualifying events to determine its representative. As the host country, Singapore will be represented by two teams in each division. Additionally, top individual performers from the event will have the opportunity to attend future NBA basketball development camps, showcases and programmes.
“Basketball is the second most-played sport amongst youth in Asia, and our goal with the NBA Rising Stars Invitational is to build on that momentum and provide a stage for top players to compete alongside and against their peers from across the region. The NBA Rising Stars Invitational will help accelerate and elevate the basketball ecosystem in Asia-Pacific while serving as a viable pathway for players to receive additional basketball training. We look forward to working with SportSG and STB to bring NBA Rising Stars Invitational and other exciting events to Singapore” said NBA Asia MD Wayne Chang.
“SportSG is excited to partner with the NBA to create an immersive festival of basketball for all during the June holidays. Held at the Kallang Alive Precinct and at various locations in our community, this two-week festival will rally the basketball fraternity and create opportunities for all to enjoy the sport that they love. Fans can look forward to a vibrant calendar featuring activities like exclusive clinics by NBA legends and coaches for our ActiveSG Basketball Academy participants, meet and greet sessions with renowned basketball players, and fan experiences at various locations around the island for all to enjoy.”
“Basketball enthusiasts who would like to catch more high-octane games can also watch the inaugural NBA Rising Stars Invitational that will feature more than 20 youth teams from across the region—including four teams made up of players from Singapore’s local and international schools. Through this multi-year partnership with the NBA, we aim to elevate basketball – one of Singapore’s most popular team sports – to the next level, inspire our next generation of players, and fuel our nation’s passion for this game” said Goh.
“The NBA’s presence in Singapore enriches our city’s dynamic offerings and solidifies our standing as a premier sporting destination. We are delighted to host the inaugural NBA Rising Stars Invitational in Singapore this June. We look forward to welcoming some of the best youth teams in Asia and their families to our shores, and hope that they will create lasting memories exploring the myriad experiences Singapore has to offer beyond the courts” said Ow.
A 6’11” forward/center, Bosh was selected fourth overall in the 2003 NBA Draft and went on to win back-to-back NBA championships with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013. The 11-time NBA All-Star was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.
Additional information about the multiday basketball and entertainment festival and the NBA Rising Stars Invitational, including ticket information, marketing partners and media partners, will be announced at a later date. For more information, visit www.nba.com/risingstarsinvitational and follow NBA Rising Stars Invitational on Instagram for the latest news and updates about the event.
In 2022, the NBA expanded its presence in Asia-Pacific by opening an office in Singapore. The Singapore office joined the league’s other offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Manila, Mumbai and Shanghai to build on the league’s efforts to grow basketball in the region, which include live game distribution, youth development programming, interactive fan events, merchandise sales and social responsibility efforts.
The NBA Rising Stars Invitational also aims to build on the league’s existing youth and elite basketball development efforts across Asia, including the Jr. NBA, NBA Basketball School and Basketball Without Borders. The Jr. NBA, the league’s global youth basketball participation programme for boys and girls, has reached more than 100 million youth and coaches across Asia since 2007.
