NBA Cares opens doors for children

Students at Jialian School in northeastern Shenzhen never imagined spending a day at school could be so cool.

Thanks to the NBA Cares social responsibility outreach program, on Oct 10 the students spent the day reading, interacting and playing basketball and table tennis with the entire Charlotte Hornets team and several NBA legends as part of the NBA Global Games tour that brought the Hornets and Los Angeles Clippers to China for two preseason games.

In partnership with the China Youth Development Foundation, the NBA donated a Learn and Play Center to the school, featuring a reading room, computer lab and basketball equipment. It was built for underprivileged children from migrant worker families.

Led by fan-favorite Hornets guard Jeremy Lin, visiting players and retired stars like Glen Rice and Dell Curry interacted with students in several activities, including a hoops clinic.

"I hope all the kids can learn and play happily with the facilities we dedicated today. And I can't wait to play games with them," Lin said in Chinese at a ceremony on Saturday.

The Shenzhen event was followed by another basketball training clinic conducted by Clippers players and coaches at the tour's second stop in Shanghai on Monday.

Clippers All-Star guard Chris Paul, power forward Blake Griffin and center DeAndre Jordan all participated in the event at Mercedes-Benz Arena, instructing 60 students from Yangjing Juyuan Experimental School in the nuances of dribbling, passing and shooting.

The Clippers and Hornets will clash at the venue on Wednesday.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said such charity activities are making a real difference and will leave a lasting legacy.

"The games themselves are fleeting. We come, we play a great game and then we leave," Silver said in Shenzhen.

"What's been so special about this program is what we can do in this school, build this center, and for years to come the boys and girls will continue to use these facilities that can truly impact their lives."

Working with organizations including the CYDF and the Yao Foundation (founded by NBA legend Yao Ming), NBA Cares has hosted or been part of more than 100 community outreach events and built 43 learn and play centers in China.

Since 2012, the NBA has supported the Yao Foundation's Hope Primary School Basketball Season, initiated by the retired Houston Rockets star, with basketball clinics and facility donations conducted by its players, coaches and legends.

"For the children, I think we all remember when we were kids and had that opportunity to meet somebody famous or doing great things - that's usually an incredible motivator," said Silver.

"I hope the kids will be moved by our visit to the point where they will think much more about what great things they can do in their lives.

"Our hope for these kids today is to put that notion in their head that they can realize great dreams."

NBA extends partnership with training school in Dongguan

NBA China and the CBA Dongguan Basketball School announced on Sunday the extension of their partnership to develop elite youth talent in China.

As part of the agreement, the CBA Dongguan Basketball School, an NBA training center located in Dongguan, Guangdong province, will continue to serve as the NBA's institution for developing young stars in China through 2021.

"We are delighted to see our facility has become China's benchmark for youth basketball training," said school principal Li Qun, who is also head coach of the Chinese Basketball Association's Dongguan Leopards.

"Through this joint effort, I am confident we are contributing significantly to the development of basketball in China."

NBA China CEO David Shoemaker agreed, adding: "Basketball development is a primary focus of NBA China, and this partnership demonstrates our commitment to developing young basketball talent in this country.

"We will continue to provide current and future generations of Chinese basketball players with the resources they need to succeed."

Established in 2011 by NBA China, the CBA and Dongguan New Century, owner of the Leopards, the CBA Dongguan Basketball School is a first-of-its-kind facility for Chinese players aged 12-17.

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 10/13/2015 page22)