To view and download photos from the event, visit the link here

Password: nycparks

Please give photo credit to NYC Parks / Daniel Avila. 

NEW YORK, NY, October 14, 2021 - The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) held an official ribbon cutting ceremony and grassroots basketball event on Saturday, October 9, 2021 to celebrate the completed renovation and reopening of NYC Park’s Greg Marius Court at Holcombe Rucker Park in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood.

Funded by the NBPA, the renovation of the legendary court included the repair and leveling of the court’s pavement, the replacement of the bleachers and the addition of team benches to both sides of the court which will be added later on this month, the repainting of the basketball court, custom made backboards and baskets provided by Spalding and a new state-of-the-art scoreboard.

NBPA Executive Director Michele Roberts and NYC Parks Commissioner Gabrielle Fialkoff officially reopened the park with a ribbon cutting ceremony and press conference. Former professional player and current NBL announcer, Corey “Homicide” Williams, emceed the event which included remarks from Rucker Park legend and NBA Hall of Famer Julius “Dr. J'' Erving, Bob McCullough, Gus Wells, A$AP Ferg, Set Free Richardson, Fat Joe, Chris Rucker, the grandson of Holcombe Rucker, and Cheryl, Stacey and Cordell Marius, family members of the late Greg Marius for whom the court is named.

Also in attendance at the event were former players and streetball legends Connie Hawkins, Fred Crawford, Nate “Tiny” Archibald, Tom Hoover, Pee Wee Kirkland, Smush Parker, Adrian “A Butta” Walton, Khalid Reeves, Joe “The Destroyer” Hammond, Jamar “The Pharmacist” Davis, Jim Couch, Shane “The Dribbling Machine” Woney, and Tim Gittens Jr. among others.

“I want to thank the community of Harlem,” said Michele Roberts. “We don’t view this as a gift we are bringing to Harlem, we view this as a thank you for giving us the gift of the Rucker. This is a place that created, encouraged, and inspired the best basketball players in the world.”

The event was also attended by Congressman Adriano Espaillat, Council Member Mark Levine, and representatives of State Attorney General Letitia James, Comptroller Scott Stringer, and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer.

“The NBPA has gone above and beyond to renovate Rucker Park's world-famous Greg Marius Court,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Gabrielle Fialkoff. “We look forward to seeing the benefits of their investment in the Harlem community play out for years to come through the court renovation and the NBPA Foundation-funded Recreation Supervisor at the park and the nearby Jackie Robinson Recreation Center.”

As the official apparel partner of the Rucker Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Legends provided custom merchandise for attendees of the event in collaboration with the Rucker Brand and the NBPA. After the opening festivities, the NBPA and its supporting partners - Legends, Spalding, NBA 2K, Rucker Brand and Curry Brand powered by Under Armour came together for an afternoon of youth basketball activities.

Led by experienced NBPA grassroots coaches and trainers, the youth basketball activities included:

A clinic with basketball drills and skill training exercises

3-point shooting contests and skills combine

A full-court game featuring local pre-selected youth from the community

The NBPA will continue to provide basketball programming at the park working with its grassroots partner Curry Brand powered by Under Armour, hosting the first NBPA x Curry Community Day this coming Sunday, October 17.

The renovation project and the reopening event featured several unique elements made possible by the NBPA’s supporting partners including:

NBA 2K Gaming Lounge

As part of the reopening event, the NBPA and 2K came together to provide an NBA 2K gaming lounge for community members to come and play NBA® 2K22, the next version of the top-rated and top-selling NBA video game simulation series.

Spalding Custom Contributions 

A global leader in basketball equipment, Spalding donated custom made professional grade hoops to the park and provided custom made NBPA x Spalding basketballs that were used for the basketball activities at the reopening ceremony.

Legends x NBPA x Rucker Brand Capsule Collection

The NBPA also teamed up with apparel brand Legends, in collaboration with Rucker Brand, the clothing company founded by Holcombe Rucker’s grandson Chris Rucker, to create a capsule collection featuring apparel that celebrates the past, present and future legends of the historic park. This apparel was featured prominently at the reopening ceremony and is available for purchase here - https://www.legends.com/collections/rucker-park.

Custom Court Artwork

The NBPA commissioned A$AP Ferg, a renowned rapper and Harlem native, and Set Free Richardson, artist and curator, to provide a one-of-kind mural for the court.

Please direct all media inquiries and photo requests 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.

About the NBPA Foundation

Established in 1997, the National Basketball Players Association Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of its members and providing support and assistance to persons, communities and organizations throughout the world that seek to improve the lives of those in need. Through grants that match players’ philanthropy and charitable giving, the Foundation highlights and accelerates the real and collaborative work that basketball players do worldwide to build their communities and create meaningful change.

About NYC Parks

NYC Parks is the steward of more than 30,000 acres of land — 14 percent of New York City — including more than 5,000 individual properties ranging from Coney Island Beach and Central Park to community gardens, playgrounds, basketball courts, and outdoor pools. The agency is New York City's principal provider of recreational and athletic facilities and programs and home to free concerts, world-class sports events, and cultural festivals. For more information, visit nyc.gov/parks.

About Spalding

SPALDING® is the largest basketball equipment brand in the world. Since its founding in 1876, the iconic American brand has remained one of the most recognized driving basketball culture today. SPALDING® is a sporting goods leader with high school, collegiate and professional partnerships. The SPALDING® trademark is owned by Russell Brands, LLC. For more information, visit www.spalding.com and the Spalding App.

About Legends

Founded in 2018, Legends is an athlete-owned performance and lifestyle apparel brand based in Los Angeles, CA. With an ownership group that includes Quavo, Baker Mayfield, Matt Barnes, Marcus & Markieff Morris, Steve Nash, Larry Nance Jr. as well as many other athletes and celebrities; Legends blends sports, entertainment, and culture with streetwear-inspired design; creating a product that is made for the modern athlete. For more information visit Legends.com and follow us on social @Legends. For PR inquiries reach out to VIP@legends.com.

About 2K

Founded in 2005, 2K develops and publishes global interactive entertainment for console and handheld gaming systems, personal computers and mobile devices, with product availability including physical retail and digital download. The Company is home to many talented development studios, including Visual Concepts, Firaxis Games, Hangar 13, Cat Daddy Games, 31st Union, Cloud Chamber and HB Studios. 2K’s portfolio currently includes several AAA, sports and entertainment brands, including global powerhouse NBA® 2K; renowned BioShock®, Borderlands™, Mafia, Sid Meier’s Civilization® and XCOM® brands; popular WWE® 2K and WWE® SuperCard franchises, as well as the critically and commercially acclaimed PGA TOUR® 2K. Additional information about 2K and its products may be found at 2k.com and on the Company’s official social media channels.

About The Rucker Brand

The Rucker Brand is one of the most authentic basketball brands in the world. The Rucker summer league, staged throughout Harlem, was founded in 1946 by one man – Holcombe Rucker. Holcombe’s goal was to encourage leadership in an underprivileged community using basketball to bridge a socioeconomic gap. Hundreds of youth benefitted from Holcombe Rucker’s servitude by attending schools and receiving athletic scholarships. Founded in 1998, The Rucker Brand aims to capture the lifestyle, culture, and vision of Holcombe Rucker. For more information, visit therucker.com and follow us on social @theruckerbrand. For PR inquiries contact rikers@therucker.com.

About Curry Brand 

Stephen was totally clear when he founded Curry Brand: it's about making a lasting impact in everything we do, for better, forever. Just as he changed the game on the court, we are committed to changing the game for communities who need it most by bringing the joy of sports to every kid. That means breaking down the barriers to performance by committing our resources to provide access to programs, coaching development, safe places to play and great gear. Learn more at currybrand.com. @currybrand

###