NBA, DCT Abu Dhabi announce expanded third season of Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) today announced the launch of the expanded third season of the Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League – operated by Sport360 –, which this year will reach more than 1,300 youth ages 11-14 from schools across Abu Dhabi, and for the first time, Al Ain. Jr. NBA programming has reached more than 10,000 youth in Abu Dhabi since 2022.
The Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League draft event took place on 27th January at the NYU Abu Dhabi campus in the presence of DCT Abu Dhabi Chairman, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, NBA Europe and Middle East Vice President of Basketball Operations, Neal Meyer, three-time NBA champion James Worthy and seven-time NBA All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge. At the event, each school was assigned an NBA team, received corresponding NBA team-branded jerseys for games, and participated in basketball development clinics, skills challenges and competitions led by Worthy and Aldridge. Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League games will tip off on 5th February and culminate with the third Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League Finals on 5th May.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said, “Youth empowerment and community development is at the heart of DCT Abu Dhabi’s vision, in service of building a brighter and more prosperous future for the emirate. Our multiyear partnership and collaboration with NBA to bring this transformative programme to Abu Dhabi’s young talents demonstrates our commitment to developing the next generation of players in the UAE and beyond. As we expand the Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League to Al Ain and reach even more children across the emirate, we further solidify the emirate’s position as a global hub for sporting activities and athletic programmes.”
“We’re excited to continue growing the Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League as part of our commitment to providing youth with more opportunities to learn and play the game,” said Meyer.
“It was inspiring to be on the court today and to see the enthusiasm and passion on display from the boys and girls participating in the Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League,” said Worthy.
The Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League aims to teach the values of the game and encourage youth to lead an active and healthy lifestyle through participation in sports. Last season, 63,000 participants in 31 countries took part in the Jr. NBA Leagues, with Jr NBA programs collectively counting 275,000 participants in 61 countries across Europe and the Middle East.
The Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League, which is supported by ADQ, Aldar and DCT Abu Dhabi, is part of a multiyear collaboration between the NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi that also features preseason NBA Global Games, a variety of interactive fan events featuring appearances by current and former NBA players, a series of NBA FIT clinics promoting health and wellness, and an NBA 2K League exhibition event. The collaboration also sees DCT Abu Dhabi, under Experience Abu Dhabi – the tourism promotion initiative of the UAE’s capital – serve as the Official Tourism Destination Partner of the NBA in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and China.
