How Basketball has the power to influence young people's lives

Over the last few months, Laureus Sport for Good has been working with programmes in three different countries, Mexico, Italy and Paris to showcase how Basketball has the power to influence young people’s lives.

Via the NBA and Euroleagues, Basketball has been able to showcase how sport can be used to positive affect with 100’s of children being able to learn more about the sport, and meet some stars and legends of the court.

On December 17, 2022 the San Antonio Spurs took on Miami Heat at the Mexico City Arena. As part of Nike and the NBAs commitment to ‘we play together’ they invited children from APAC, a programme supported by Laureus Sport for Good, based in Mexico to come and deliver the ball, as well as having the opportunity to meet some basketball legends.

The APAC have over 50 years of experience in providing specialist care for people with cerebral paralysis and other related disabilities. They are committed to using the power of sport, in particular Basketball and Boccia, to engage girls with disabilities from low-income families and help improve their physical fitness, motor skills and increase their self-esteem.

Olimpia Milano and Laureus Sport for Good Italia Foundation came together in January to celebrate the conclusion of the first phase of the  Euroleague ‘One Team’ project. 140 students from the first grades of the lower secondary school of the Istituto Comprensivo Arcadia in Gratosoglio, a district in the southern suburbs of Milan, enjoyed a day of training together with Ettore Messina's team at the Assago Forum.

Back in early January, the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls in association with the NBA hosted 40 young women from Laureus Sport for Good  Programme - Paris Basket 18.

Members of the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls respective teams and coaching staff along with NBA Clinicians lead participants through a variety of basketball-related activities with the focus being on ‘Her time to Play.’

Following the clinic, the young women from Paris Basket 18 took part in a Women In Sports empowerment discussion featuring female leaders from the Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls and the NBA League Office. Paris Basket 18 works to create gender justice through basketball for young girls from the 18th District in Paris.