The NBA today announced its celebrations of the 2nd annual World Basketball Day to honor the game and bring people together from around the world. The day was established in 2023 by the United Nations and is observed annually on December 21, the date Dr. James Naismith first introduced the game of basketball at the Springfield YMCA in 1891.
World Basketball Day celebrates cross-cultural unity through a shared passion for the game and the values it represents. Yesterday, a bipartisan resolution was introduced in the United States House of Representatives honoring the contributions of basketball to global unity, international sports diplomacy and the transformative impact of the sport on communities across the world. Celebrations will include youth basketball clinics taking place across the globe, special theme nights at NBA games, themed content rollouts on NBA digital platforms and more. Fans around the world can join the celebration by sharing their personal connection with the game and participating in the Pass the Ball campaign on social media using #WorldBasketballDay and tagging @nba, @nbacares and @jrnba accounts.
Nearly 600 million people worldwide play basketball annually. In collaboration with the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), USA Basketball, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the NBA family will celebrate World Basketball Day through themed activations and content.
“World Basketball Day is an opportunity to come together around our shared love of the game,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “We look forward to joining the global basketball community in highlighting the game’s unique ability to inspire, connect and bring joy to people of all ages and backgrounds.”
“World Basketball Day aligns perfectly with FIBA's mission of promoting the game and uniting the world basketball community,” said Andreas Zagklis, FIBA Secretary General. “Our shared passion for basketball, regardless of our individual backgrounds, unites us and serves as a powerful force for good. From grassroots players and casual fans to elite athletes and excited followers, World Basketball Day is for everyone. We take great pride in celebrating this day on December 21, and I encourage everyone, players and fans alike, to pick up a basketball and join us.”
“As a growing sports, media, and entertainment property, the WNBA is committed to using the game of basketball to inspire people, especially young girls and women, around the globe,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “This second annual World Basketball Day is an opportunity to reflect on Dr. James Naismith’s passion for the game and vision for its future while renewing our own commitment to developing sustainable youth basketball pipelines, investing in the game, and increasing exposure for women’s basketball.”
“The NBA G League continues to be committed to providing opportunities to players to pursue their NBA dreams through hard work, passion and determination – essential pieces of the fabric of basketball,” said Shareef Abdur-Rahim, President of the NBA G League. “We’re proud to be a part of World Basketball Day and to host 50 girls in Orlando for a clinic during our annual Showcase event where they can be a part of the game, too.”
“Basketball has always been more than a game for me. It is where I find joy and connection, and it’s given me more in life than I ever could have imagined,” said Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic. “Through my foundation, I am excited to work with the NBA and others across the globe to make sure kids everywhere have access to the same opportunities and pure joy that basketball can provide.”
“Our players – and so many other competitors at all levels of play – express their love of the game every day by giving it their all both on and off the court,” said Andre Iguodala, Executive Director of the NBPA. “World Basketball Day is a great opportunity to bring the global basketball community together to celebrate and show respect for this shared passion and all that the game of basketball has given us.”
“At USA Basketball, we have the opportunity to touch the worldwide basketball ecosystem every day, taking the USA’s top talent to major international competitions, promoting the sport at a grassroots level across our country and working closely with the game’s stakeholders around the globe,” said Jim Tooley, USA Basketball CEO. “We are excited to come together with our partners and friends to celebrate World Basketball Day and the beautiful game that positively impacts millions of lives every year.”
“World Basketball Day celebrates the impact of basketball and the game’s unique ability to unite a global community,” said John Doleva, President and CEO of Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “Let us not forget the day (December 21st) also marks the birth date of basketball, invented by James Naismith in 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts at the YMCA International Training Academy. His modest invention has become a worldwide phenomenon that is unparalleled in sport!”
“The NFHS celebrates World Basketball Day by honoring James Naismith, the visionary who gave the world the gift of basketball,” said Karissa Niehoff, CEO of NFHS. “From a single peach basket to a global phenomenon, his legacy unites us on courts around the world. We continue to play, connect, and compete, keeping his dream alive.”
This year, the NBA, U.S. House of Representatives and global basketball community recognize the following celebrations in observance of World Basketball Day:
World Basketball Day U.S. House Resolution
Representatives Nikema Williams (D-GA), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), Blake Moore (R-UT), and Richard Neal (D-MA) introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives establishing World Basketball Day in the United States. The bipartisan resolution recognizes the global impact of the game and honor basketball’s influence on communities worldwide. Additionally, the resolution commemorates the extraordinary life and humanitarian efforts of NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo, whose work as an NBA Global Ambassador has made a profound difference in the lives of countless individuals across the globe.
“Playing in the Congressional Basketball Game is a fun way to forge relationships, while competing, with my colleagues. I highly value sports as they teach teamwork, determination, and perseverance,” said Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ). “Proud to help introduce this resolution to designate December 21 as World Basketball Day and to highlight the games’ unique ability to entertain and connect people of all ages, nationalities, and backgrounds.”
“Sports have always been a big part of my life and something that bridges divides and brings people together,” said Blake Moore (R-UT). “I love participating in the bipartisan Congressional Basketball Game each year, where I have made friends across the political aisle and forged productive working relationships. World Basketball Day represents the power sports—particularly basketball—can have in our communities and across the globe as we seek to build unity and promote teamwork in all areas of life.”
“It is a privilege to represent the community I grew up in, especially one that has played such a prominent role in our nation’s history. Springfield has rightfully earned the moniker “City of Firsts,” a testament to the transformative power that ideas and action have effectuated in our city’s countless achievements. Springfield is where the first American dictionary was printed, the first American gas-powered automobile was manufactured, and of course, where the game of basketball was invented,” said Congressman Richard Neal (D-MA). “You cannot recount the history of basketball without Springfield. Springfield College is where James Naismith infamously played the first game of basketball with nothing but a peach basket, and the Larry O’Brien trophy is named in honor of the Springfield native who transformed the NBA during his time as Commissioner. This resolution is a reminder that sports unite us, and basketball has always had the ability to bring together communities from across the globe. We also honor an NBA legend in Dikembe Mutombo, who embodied this very notion with his profound humanitarian work.”
“I have seen basketball inspire, drive, and showcase real-world activism and humanitarianism, both globally and in my own community,” said Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA). “I’m reminded of legends like Atlanta’s very own, Dikembe Mutombo, who are proof of the lasting impact the game and its players can have. Their influence, both on and off the court, is exactly why a day of recognition is so significant. It’s an absolute honor to recognize World Basketball Day in Congress.”
