Presented by HSS, the NBPA will launch its first virtual clinic with Bam Adebayo on Saturday, March 6, 2021

NEW YORK, NY, March 3, 2021 – The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) is excited to announce a series of virtual youth basketball clinics featuring coaching and instruction from NBPA members. Building upon the NBPA’s existing virtual programming, this new series of youth basketball clinics is designed to help boys and girls ages 9-17 develop their skills on and off the court without leaving the safety of their own homes.

The NBPA’s virtual clinics will provide expert basketball instruction led by experienced NBPA grassroots coaches, skill trainers as well as current NBPA Members, all working to help young athletes develop a complete understanding of the game. In addition to basketball activities, all clinics will include an educational component that will introduce participants to the topics of injury prevention & physical literacy, financial literacy and other life skills.

The NBPA is partnering with Pro Skills to ensure a professional virtual experience for players focused on personal growth on and off the court. Each session will be streamed via Zoom and clinic participants and their families will be able to follow along on any device.

The NBPA is also partnering with Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) to provide Neuromuscular Training, a form of training that has been proven to improve sports performance and reduce injury risk in young athletes. Working with Spalding, Champion Athleticwear and Outerstuff, the NBPA will provide gear for all participants as well as a number of scholarship spots for each clinic.

The first clinic in this series will take place from 4:00-6:00pm EST on Saturday, March 6, 2021 with NBPA member, Bam Adebayo. Clinics will take place on a monthly basis and additional clinic dates and member appearances will be announced at a later date via the NBPA’s social channels.

“As a kid I always valued the importance of hard work and the fundamentals I learned from basketball camps and my coaches,” said Bam Adebayo, who will be appearing as a guest coach at the inaugural NBPA Virtual Basketball Clinic. “With youth basketball facing challenges right now, I’m excited that I can help kids train and work on those same fundamentals from anywhere.”

“We know that the pandemic has made it challenging for kids to keep playing basketball and develop their skills right now,” said Chris Jean, Senior Director of Grassroots & Business Development for THINK450, the innovation and business development arm of the NBPA. “We are excited that we can continue to make quality coaching, life-skills education and group instruction with our members and partners available for youth from the safety of their own homes until it is safe for everyone to return to play.”

Each clinic session will include:

• 2-hour virtual training from the safety of your own home, exclusively streamed on Zoom.
• Virtual instruction by experienced NBPA Grassroots coaches & skill trainers.
• Appearance by an NBPA Member (availability subject to change).
• Physical Literacy and Injury Prevention provided by HSS.
• Introduction to Financial Literacy and Life Skill component.
• NBPA Basketball Clinic t-shirt by Champion.

Follow the @theNBPA on Instagram and Twitter for updates and for more information, please visit www.nbpa.com/clinics.

All media inquiries should be directed to communications@nbpa.com.

About the NBPA

The National Basketball Players Association is the union for current professional basketball players in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Established in 1954, the NBPA’s mission is to protect and support the rights and talents of our players, magnify the power of their collective will, and amplify their voices as leaders who will transcend sport and society globally.

The NBPA advocates on behalf of the best interests of all NBA players, including the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, the filing of grievances on behalf of the players, or counseling players on benefits, educational and post-NBA career opportunities. Business opportunities are generated by THINK450, the subsidiary of the NBPA charged with managing the players’ group licensing rights.

Dedicated to preserving the legacy of its members, the NBPA Foundation provides support and assistance to persons, communities and organizations around the world that seek to improve the lives of those in need. For more information about the NBPA, visit www.nbpa.com.

About HSS

HSS is the world’s leading academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health. At its core is Hospital for Special Surgery, nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics (for the 11th consecutive year), No. 4 in rheumatology by U.S. News & World Report (2020-2021), and named a leader in pediatric orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report “Best Children’s Hospitals” list (2020-2021). HSS is ranked world #1 in orthopedics by Newsweek (2020-2021). Founded in 1863, the Hospital has the lowest complication and readmission rates in the nation for orthopedics, and among the lowest infection rates. HSS was the first in New York State to receive Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center four consecutive times. The global standard total knee replacement was developed at HSS in 1969. An affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College, HSS has a main campus in New York City and facilities in New Jersey, Connecticut and in the Long Island and Westchester County regions of New York State, as well as in Florida. In addition to patient care, HSS leads the field in research, innovation and education. The HSS Research Institute comprises 20 laboratories and 300 staff members focused on leading the advancement of musculoskeletal health through prevention of degeneration, tissue repair and tissue regeneration. The HSS Global Innovation Institute was formed in 2016 to realize the potential of new drugs, therapeutics and devices. The HSS Education Institute is a trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal knowledge and research for physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, academic trainees, and consumers in more than 130 countries. The institution is collaborating with medical centers and other organizations to advance the quality and value of musculoskeletal care and to make world-class HSS care more widely accessible nationally and internationally. www.hss.edu.

About Pro Skills

Pro Skills Basketball (PSB) is the premier youth basketball organization in the US with over 150 club teams and 100 camps, clinics, and virtual events in 15 cities across the US. Pro Skills Basketball works closely with USA Basketball Youth to execute events and programs and is also home to the elite grassroots teams of NBA superstar Stephen Curry, which play under the name "Team Curry" and are members of the boys and girls Under Armour Association circuit.

PSB's mission is to change the culture of youth basketball and, as a member of the Jr. NBA Flagship Network, they have been recognized as one of the "18 best-in-class youth basketball organizations" in the US. To learn more about Pro Skills Basketball, please visit https://proskillsbasketball.com.

About Spalding

SPALDING® is the largest basketball equipment brand in the world. SPALDING® is the official basketball of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), and the official backboard of the NBA and NCAA Final Four. The SPALDING® trademark is owned by Russell Brands, LLC. For more information, visit www.spalding.com.

About Champion®

For more than 100 years CHAMPION® Athleticwear has offered a full line of innovative athletic apparel for men and women including activewear, sweats, tees, sports bras, team uniforms and accessories. CHAMPION® uses innovative design and state-of-the-art product testing to ensure uncompromised quality and innovative apparel for its consumers. CHAMPION® Athleticwear can be purchased at department stores, sporting goods, specialty retailers, and at Champion.com. CHAMPION® is a brand of Hanesbrands Inc. (NYSE:HBI).

About Outerstuff

Outerstuff is the leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of licensed children’s sports apparel for the major sports leagues globally. In addition to exclusive youth and various adult contracts with the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and MLS, Outerstuff has substantial NCAA and Olympics rights, as well as brands including Umbro and Starter. Outerstuff sells its merchandise through all mass, mid-tier, sporting goods, e-comm and specialty channels worldwide, with sales in over 100 countries. In addition, Outerstuff has strong relationships with leading on-field brand sponsors, such as Nike.

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