NBA ALL-STAR 2025 BRINGS FIVE DAYS OF COMMUNITY IMPACT AND YOUTH BASKETBALL TO THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

Micah Tannenbaum

02.11.2025 | 22:18 GMT+0000

NBA All-Star

– NBA to Host First Total Health All-Star Walk and 17th Annual NBA Cares Day of Service –

– More Than 2,000 Local Youth to Participate in Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Basketball Programs –

– NBA HBCU Classic Presented by AT&T Includes Career Development Opportunities and HBCU Celebrations –

NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2025 – NBA All-Star 2025, in collaboration with the Golden State Warriors, will deliver five days of social impact and youth basketball events in the San Francisco Bay Area, emphasizing service, wellness, inclusion and grassroots development. The NBA will impact more than 2,000 boys and girls through a series of Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA basketball clinics and programming that support participation and high-quality coaching at the grassroots level. Additionally, throughout NBA All-Star 2025, the league will continue its commitment to supporting historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). NBA All-Star 2025 culminates with the All-Star Game on Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. ET on TNT. As part of the NBA’s efforts, the league will collectively donate more than $2 million to support the Bay Area and HBCU communities.

17^th NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service

On Friday, Feb. 14, the NBA, NBPA and the Golden State Warriors will mobilize 500 volunteers – including current and former NBA & WNBA players, employees and partners – to refurbish two Bay Area elementary schools. In collaboration with the Golden State Warriors and support from NIKE, the NBA and NBPA will unveil a renovated gymnasium featuring new hoops, equipment, lighting and flooring at Bret Harte Elementary School in San Francisco. In Oakland, the NBA and NBPA will collaborate with the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation and KABOOM! to beautify the school yard and as part of the NBA Cares State Farm Assist Tracker program, renovate the library at East Oakland Pride Elementary School. Additionally, NBA volunteers will participate in a hands-on service project at the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank packing meals for the 50,000 households that the food bank serves each week.

NBA Total Health All-Star Walk presented by Evernorth Health Services

The NBA will launch its new holistic health platform, NBA Total Health, with its inaugural Total Health All-Star Walk, presented by Evernorth Health Services. In partnership with San Francisco Recreation and Parks, GirlTREK and the Golden State Warriors, the walk will engage 1,000 local community members, families and All-Star guests to celebrate and bring awareness to the importance of physical, mental and community health. The walk will also feature local health and wellness resources to promote a healthy lifestyle among all ages.

Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Day presented by NIKE

The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA will partner with NIKE to host the 8^th annual Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Day on Friday, Feb. 14. Local elementary and middle school students from San Francisco and Oakland Unified School Districts will participate. Current and former NBA and WNBA players will join nearly a thousand youth to participate in basketball clinics that teach the fundamentals of basketball and the values of the game.

Jr. WNBA Clinic

The Jr. WNBA is the WNBA’s initiative dedicated to providing girls of all skill levels opportunities to learn, play and love the game of basketball. The Jr. WNBA clinic will feature basketball fundamentals and a panel discussion with WNBA players including members of the Golden State Valkyries aimed to help girls gain confidence, face challenges, and learn the importance of physical and mental wellness.

NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T

As previously announced, the Morehouse College and Tuskegee University men’s basketball programs from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) will compete in the fourth NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T. The HBCU Classic takes place in Oakland Arena at 2 p.m. PT on Saturday, Feb. 15, and will be broadcast on ESPN+, NBA TV and TruTV. Fans can purchase tickets to the NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T here. In addition to the game, the NBA will celebrate and support the HBCU community with a full slate of events that will be announced at a later date. The NBA and AT&T will also donate $100,000 each to Morehouse College and Tuskegee University.

NBA Foundation All-Star Pitch Competition

The NBA Foundation in collaboration with the Golden State Warriors, the Kapor Center, and Amplitude will host the finals of the All-Star Pitch Competition on Thursday, Feb. 13. Seven early-stage startups will pitch their businesses in front of a panel of judges that include Chase Koch, Chiney Ogwumike, Spenser Skates, Rebecca Quick and Angela Yee. $150,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to the top three finalists. The semifinals of the Pitch competition were held in San Francisco in December 2024, with the seven finalists earning their spot to compete at NBA All-Star 2025.

NBA All-Star Game Charitable Components

As part of the State Farm® Assist Tracker Program, each assist during the NBA All-Star Game will result in a $1,900 donation split between Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco and Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland. During last year’s NBA All-Star Game, the State Farm® Assist Tracker recorded 106 assists resulting in $201,400 in donations. Additionally, the NBA will host firefighters from San Francisco, Oakland and Alameda County who traveled to Los Angeles to assist with wildfire recovery efforts and provide them with tickets to the All-Star Game. Last month, the NBA and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) announced a $1 million donation to organizations that support those affected by the Los Angeles fires.

Make-A-Wish Experiences

The NBA will continue its longstanding partnership with Make-A-Wish Foundation and help grant seven wishes of youth throughout NBA All-Star 2025.

Additional Social Impact and Youth Basketball Events During NBA All-Star 2025 Include

NBA Hoops & Heritage: An All-Star Vendor Showcase to spotlight local small businesses and prospective vendors.

Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA and Junior Warriors Coaches Clinic: Local youth basketball coaches will participate in a coaches’ clinic led by an NBA All-Star Head Coach featuring discussions on coaching philosophies, strategy and on court skill development.

Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Wheelchair Basketball Clinic: The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA and Challenged Athletes Foundation will host a basketball clinic introducing individuals with physical disabilities to wheelchair basketball.

Junior Warriors x Special Olympics All-Star Showcase: Teams from the Junior Warriors program and Special Olympics Northern California will participate in a showcase of competitive games at the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA’s court space.

Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Skills Challenge: Boys and girls will compete in skills competitions focused on the fundamentals of basketball. There will be a boys’ division and a girls’ division in two different age groups.

Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA STEM Clinic: Participants ages 6-14 will learn about the intersection of sports and STEM and how concepts such as the scientific method, data visualization and data collection are a way to better understand the world around them, whether in a school classroom or on a basketball court.

NIKE N7 x Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Clinic: The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA and NIKE N7 will host a basketball clinic for indigenous youth from the Intertribal Friendship House Bay Area.

HBCU Programming: A series of HBCU celebrations and career development opportunities in conjunction with the NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T will occur throughout NBA All-Star 2025.

National Basketball Social Justice Coalition: On Jan. 17, in the lead up to NBA All-Star 2025, the Golden State Warriors and the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition (NBSJC) hosted The Rebound: Second Chances & The Power of Basketball at Chase Center in San Francisco. The event featured a series of “on-court conversations” highlighting the NBA and Warriors’ commitment to second chances for incarcerated and justice-impacted individuals. The discussions spotlighted ongoing impact work with the Twinning Project in California State Prison Solano and the annual basketball event at the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, as well as the recently released book, The Power of Basketball: NBA Players, Coaches, and Team Governors on the Fight to Make a Better America – a joint project of NBSJC and the Vera Institute of Justice.

Sustainability: As part of the league’s environmental sustainability efforts through NBA Green, the NBA and Golden State Warriors will work to minimize impacts related to energy, water, waste, and transportation. Chase Center is LEED Gold certified for building design and construction and was the first NBA arena in California to be Green Business Certified in April 2021. The arena’s comprehensive sustainability efforts in water conservation, graywater recovery, food recovery, waste diversion, and more will make a sustainable impact on NBA All-Star.

NBA events at Chase Center, Moscone Center and Oakland Arena will be powered by 100% renewable energy and reach at least an 80% waste diversion rate. In addition, NBA Green will tip off its partnership with Rewiring America through a sustainability fan activation at NBA Crossover. The activation – an electric bike competition – will educate fans on how going electric makes homes and businesses healthier, more affordable and better for the planet.

Stand Together Collaboration: The NBA will receive support from Stand Together, a philanthropic community that engages communities nationwide in acts of service. Stand Together will have 20 volunteers participate in the NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service and Stand Together will amplify the NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T.

Jalen Brunson Named NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award December Winner

Micah Tannenbaum

01.24.2025 | 16:02 GMT+0000

Community Assist Award New York Knicks

– Brunson Hosted Holiday Gift Giving Events, Shopping Sprees and Fulfilled Wishes During NBA’s Season of Giving –

– NBA to Donate $10,000 to Second Round Foundation –

NEW YORK, January 24, 2025 – The NBA today announced New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for the month of December. During the NBA’s Season of Giving, which runs from late November through December, Brunson hosted holiday gift giving events, shopping sprees and fulfilled the wishes of two children from Make-A-Wish Metro NY and Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley. Brunson will receive the David Robinson trophy, and the NBA will donate $10,000 to the Second Round Foundation – an organization that creates equity for young people through education, sport and community.

During NBA Season of Giving, Brunson and the Second Round Foundation partnered with DREAM Charter Schools to bring cheer to students during the holiday season. As a part of this effort, Brunson co-hosted two Family Dinner and Game Night events for nearly 500 DREAM students and their families. Families received food baskets with fresh produce and non-perishable food items ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. The events also promoted the Scratch Food Program, which focuses on improving school meals and encouraging healthy eating habits. Brunson and the Second Round Foundation also purchased 250 winter coats for DREAM students from Manhattan’s East Harlem and Mott Haven and Highbridge campuses in the Bronx.

Brunson along with the Garden of Dreams Foundation also hosted 20 single mothers from the Covenant House in the Bronx for a holiday shopping spree experience. Each mother received $550 in Target gift cards to purchase gifts and necessities.

The New York Knicks hosted their Garden of Dreams Night on December 5^th and invited two children from Make-A-Wish to participate. The two boys, undergoing medical challenges, had a wish to meet Brunson and attend a Knicks game. Brunson spent time with both boys and provided words of encouragement. The boys also served as an honorary Knicks Player and an honorary Knicks Coach for the game.

“I’m humbled and honored to receive the Community Assist Award for the month of December,” said Brunson. “The greatest gift the game has given me has been the ability to give back to those in need through the Second Round Foundation. This award further motivates me to serve the communities that mean so much to me and to highlight those who deserve support, regardless of their circumstances.”

Brunson will be recognized in-arena as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner during the Kings-Knicks game on Jan. 25. New York Knicks President Leon Rose and a youth representative from the Covenant House will present him with the award.

The NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award honors Bob Lanier, an NBA League Office executive and NBA Cares Ambassador for more than 30 years. He had an enormous influence on the NBA family and young people globally, traveling the world to teach the values of the game and making a positive impact through his kindness and generosity. The legacy he built will continue to live on through the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award recognition, which honors the next generation of players’ commitment to positively impacting their community throughout the NBA season. Over the course of each NBA season, there is an offseason winner followed by seven monthly award winners. The offseason winner receives the Bob Lanier trophy, and each monthly winner receives the David Robinson trophy. The NBA also makes a donation to the charity or foundation of the player’s choice. To learn more, please visit https://communityassist.nba.com/.

Spurs Team Up For NBA Cares Clinic in Paris

Micah Tannenbaum

01.23.2025 | 15:52 GMT+0000

Global Games NBA Teams Paris Game San Antonio Spurs

Onyeka Okongwu Named NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award November Winner

Micah Tannenbaum

12.23.2024 | 15:01 GMT+0000

Atlanta Hakws Community Assist Award

– Okongwu Partnered with Local Organizations to Support and Encourage Others Processing Grief –

– NBA to donate $10,000 to Atlanta nonprofit Kate’s Club –

NEW YORK, December 23, 2024 – The NBA today announced Atlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for the month of November. Okongwu partnered with local organizations in Atlanta to provide support and encouragement for those dealing with the loss of loved ones, in addition to donating Hawks’ merchandise, tickets and sports equipment to the community. Okongwu will receive the David Robinson trophy, and the NBA will donate $10,000 to Kate’s Club – an organization dedicated to empowering children and teens, their families and young adults following the death of a parent, sibling, caregiver, or someone important to them.

Supporting others during times of grief is personally important to Okongwu, as he’s experienced the loss of family and friends. When Okongwu was 13 years old, his older brother, Nnamdi tragically passed away from a skateboarding accident. The two brothers were extremely close, and Okongwu plays basketball in honor of his brother, who was a standout basketball player as well. During Okongwu’s second season in the NBA, his father Mike passed away, followed by the unexpected passing of his close friend Daniel the following season. Okongwu understands the emotions that a loss of a family member or friend can bring, and he is committed to supporting others who are going through something similar.

With November being Children’s Grief Awareness Month, Okongwu partnered with Visiting Nurse Health System and supported their Camp STARS (Sharing Together As Real Support), a bereavement retreat held annually in Georgia. The retreat serves campers ages 2-66 and provides the support needed to cope and honor the lives of loved ones. Okongwu drafted and shared welcome letters with each camper, recorded content sharing experience with loss and shared coping mechanisms that was shown throughout the retreat. Okongwu also provided giveaway prizes for the camp raffle.

Just before the Thanksgiving holiday, Okongwu continued his partnership with Kate’s Club and participated in their clubhouse experience with teens who have lost a loved one. Okongwu has partnered with Kate’s Club since his rookie season and supports the organization by providing tickets to Hawks’ games, sharing his story at their annual fundraising gala and making a financial contribution to help build a playground for Kate’s Club members. As part of the clubhouse experience, Okongwu participated in the welcome circle with others going through similar situations and shared his experience dealing with grief, participated in ice breakers and hosted basketball activities with the teens. Okongwu donated basketball equipment to Kate’s Club and provided Hawks’ prizes to participants.

“Losing a loved one can be hard and I know that from first-hand experience. I have been fortunate to find organizations who are doing the important work of helping people work through their grief – something that I wish I had along my journey,” said Okongwu. “It is an honor for me partner with Kate’s Club and Camp STARS in their efforts. I look forward to continuing to make an impact in this area.”

Okongwu will be recognized in-arena as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner during the Heat-Hawks game on Dec. 28. Atlanta Hawks General Manager Landry Fields will present him with the award.

Celebrate World Basketball Day

Micah Tannenbaum

12.20.2024 | 17:22 GMT+0000

Jr. NBA World Basketball Day

Los Angeles Sparks Azurá Stevens Receives Seasonlong WNBA Cares Community Assist Award

Micah Tannenbaum

11.15.2024 | 21:12 GMT+0000

Los Angeles Sparks WNBA WNBA Cares Community Assist Award

Cole Anthony Named NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award October Winner

Micah Tannenbaum

11.15.2024 | 14:56 GMT+0000

Community Assist Award NBA Cares Programs Orlando Magic

– Anthony Hosted a Financial Literacy Workshop, Fundraising Events and Youth Basketball Clinics to Support Health and Wellness –

– NBA to donate $10,000 to 50 Ways Foundation –

NEW YORK, November 15, 2024 – The NBA today announced Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for the month of October. Anthony is being recognized for his work supporting youth health and wellness through hosting a financial literacy workshop, fundraising events and youth basketball clinics. Anthony will receive the David Robinson trophy, and the NBA will donate $10,000 to his 50 Ways Foundation.

Each year Anthony gives back to the place he grew up, New York. Before the start of the season, Anthony hosted his fifth annual charity weekend in Harlem. As part of the weekend, Anthony held his second “The Playbook” event, bringing together some of New York City’s top high school basketball players for a workshop focused on building financial literacy. Anthony participated on a panel with financial professionals to discuss the importance of saving and budgeting, strengthening one’s credit score, hiring the right financial advisors and how to navigate Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) opportunities. In addition to “The Playbook,” Anthony hosted a free basketball clinic for local youth, donated over 500 backpacks for students and held a charity Pro-Am game at The Harlem Police Athletic League over the weekend.

Anthony, along with the Orlando Magic team, hosted nearly 3,200 fourth and fifth graders at Kia Center as part of the Magic and Orange County Public Schools’ (OCPS) annual Pick, Read and Roll event. During the event, Anthony motivated the students to pursue academic success and emphasized the importance of reading. Anthony also recognized 150 students for their outstanding accomplishments in reading during the previous school year. OCPS data shows, students who participate in the Pick, Read and Roll event experience a 30% increase in their reading scores, further demonstrating the impact that Anthony and the Orlando Magic had as a result of the event.

During the summer, Anthony also supported two local events in Central Florida through his 50 Ways Foundation. Anthony’s foundation supported City of Orlando District 6 Commissioner Bakari Burn’s Back to School Bash at the Dr. James R. Smith Neighborhood Center by providing essential back to school items for more than 500 youth. Additionally, Anthony surprised more than 50 youth at the Ivey Lane Neighborhood Center in Orlando to provide dinner, clothing, school essentials and more.

“For me, it’s a really big deal to give back to the youth of Central Florida and back home in New York,” said Anthony. “This is important because it’s bigger than basketball. Basketball obviously is a big part of my life, but there are other aspects as well like giving back to the community and assisting people who are less fortunate. However I can try to help ease the burden a little, that’s what I try to do.”

Anthony will be recognized in-arena as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner during the 76ers-Magic game on Nov. 15. Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins and Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman will present him with the award.

NBA GREEN MONTHLY TIP: SEPTEMBER

mkane

11.05.2024 | 16:41 GMT+0000

NBA Green

As single-use cups and plastic bottles waste money and fill oceans and landfills, everyone’s better off with reusable options. The Portland Trail Blazers reuse program allows fans to purchase beverages in BPA-free cups and then return the cups to designated bins where they are safely washed to be used again.

Tyrese Maxey Named NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award Offseason Winner

Micah Tannenbaum

10.17.2024 | 14:58 GMT+0000

Community Assist Award Philadelphia 76ers

– Tyrese Maxey Foundation Hosted Inaugural Friends and Family Weekend and 3^rd Annual Basketball 1% Skills Camps in Philadelphia and Dallas –

– NBA to donate $10,000 to the Tyrese Maxey Foundation –

NEW YORK, October 17, 2024 – The NBA today announced Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for the offseason. Maxey is being recognized for his efforts in supporting youth in Philadelphia and his hometown of Dallas through the Tyrese Maxey Foundation. Maxey will receive the Bob Lanier trophy, and the NBA will donate $10,000 to the Tyrese Maxey Foundation.

Over the summer, Maxey and his foundation launched the inaugural Tyrese Maxey Foundation Friends and Family Weekend in Philadelphia. As part of the weekend, Maxey invited youth ages 7-12, to participate in his 1% Better Skills Camp – a free basketball camp that included skills training, giveaways and lunch with Maxey and coaches from the camp. Maxey also hosted another family focused basketball camp in Dallas the following weekend, which included a free golf clinic for youth in the area. In total, Maxey hosted over 700 youth between the two events.

During Friends and Family Weekend, Maxey announced two scholarships – one for a college student and another for a community partner – reflecting the event’s mission to provide students with the support needed to pursue their academic endeavors. He also committed to donating $1 million to Philadelphia-based youth organizations, solidifying his deep connection to giving back to the city he’s played in since joining the NBA in 2020.

“It’s such an honor to receive the NBA Cares Community Assist Award for the offseason. I’m grateful to even be in a position to make a difference in the lives of Philadelphia- and Dallas-area youth,” Maxey said. “I believe in the power of education and sports to transform lives and am committed to supporting our youth as they pursue their dreams. Thank you to the NBA for this recognition, and to everyone who has supported the Tyrese Maxey Foundation along the way.”

This is the second time Maxey has earned the Community Assist Award. In 2022, Maxey was named the November winner in recognition for his dedication to strengthening families and communities and supporting youth development.

Maxey will be recognized in-arena as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner during the season opening Bucks-76ers game on Oct. 23.