NEW YORK, March 31-- Brazilian natives Nenê (Denver Nuggets) and Leandro Barbosa (Phoenix Suns) will lead a contingent of current and former NBA players and coaching personnel to serve as coaches for Basketball Without Borders Americas, which will take place June 28 to July 3, 2004 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, it was announced today by the National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Brazilian Basketball Confederation (CBB).

June 28 to July 3, 2004 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Fortaleza São João (Army base) Estrellas de la NBA visitarán Brasil Basquetebol Sem Fronteiras das Américas ao Brasil

The program features extensive community outreach and incorporates educational seminars addressing important social issues such as HIV/AIDS prevention and education for the top 50 young players from over 20 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean.

"The NBA is committed to use the sport of basketball as an international language to promote global friendship and sportsmanship," stated NBA Commissioner David Stern. "Through Basketball Without Borders, we bring together young individuals from all walks of life to create essential dialogue and to teach them about important social issues such as HIV/AIDS education and prevention."

This will mark the NBA's second consecutive trip to Brazil and third consecutive visit to the region. During the last two years, the NBA held the Latinos Unidos Tour in Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, while the upcoming effort incorporates the NBA's Basketball Without Borders program.

Since its inception in 2001, Basketball Without Borders has served as a basketball instructional camp in Europe for young people designed to promote friendship, healthy living and education through sport. This year, Basketball Without Borders will be staged in Europe (Treviso, Italy) for the fourth consecutive year and will be expanded for the first time to include Latin America and the Caribbean (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Africa (Johannesburg, South Africa).

NBA PLAYER/COACH PARTICIPANTS Players Team Country Leandro Barbosa Phoenix Suns Brazil Felipe Lopez Former NBA guard Dominican Republic Eduardo Najera Dallas Mavericks Mexico Dikembe Mutombo New York Knicks Congo Nenê Denver Nuggets Brazil Coaches, Personnel Team Country Mark Osowski Cleveland Cavaliers USA Don Zierden Minnesota Timberwolves USA Tony Ronzone (camp director) Detroit Pistons USA

"I am proud to return to Brazil along with other fellow NBA players to take part in this basketball camp with some of the best players from Latin America and the Caribbean," said Nenê. "It will be an experience we will cherish for a lifetime. I look forward to sharing this NBA experience with all parties and organizations involved."

In addition to basketball instruction and competition, the young players, 16-17 years of age, will share living quarters with their new teammates and participate in daily seminars featuring NBA current and former players. The seminars will promote leadership and healthy living, HIV/AIDS and drug abuse, education and prevention.

The Fortaleza São João will host Basketball Without Borders Americas. The camp is co-organized by the NBA, FIBA and CBB. Joining the NBA Brazilian players at the camp will be New York Knicks center Dikembe Mutombo (Congo), Dallas Mavericks forward Eduardo Najera (Mexico) and former Minnesota Timberwolves guard Felipe Lopez (Dominican Republic).

Cleveland Cavaliers Assistant Coach Mark Osowski and Minnesota Timberwolves Assistant Coach Don Zierden also will conduct clinics and specific exercises to help improve the players' fundamentals. Tony Ronzone, Detroit Pistons Director of International Scouting, will act as the camp director.

The participants from over 20 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, among others, will be selected for their basketball skills, leadership abilities and dedication to the sport of basketball by FIBA, in conjunction with participating basketball federations. The NBA and FIBA will donate products, such as basketballs, rims and nets to local basketball federations.

"Basketball Without Borders Americas will be a perfect showcase for the great talent pool from Latin America and the Caribbean," said FIBA International Relations and Development Manager Anicet Lavodrama. "The partnership between FIBA and the NBA helps to grow the sport of basketball in a basketball-loving region and will contribute to a better life, instill knowledge, commitment and leadership for the young talented basketball players. Basketball Without Borders Americas is an example of how the basketball community comes together for the good of the sport".

In addition to the on-court action, Basketball Without Borders Americas also will feature extensive community outreach including Read to Achieve events, Basketball and Books Clinics and a NBA Legacy Project, the NBA's premiere community initiative, which features the creation of a state-of-the-art Reading and Learning Center and includes donated books, furniture, Dell computers and additional educational materials.

As a part of the NBA's Read to Achieve program, the NBA and its teams have created Reading and Learning Centers that provide access to reading materials and technology for young people. To date, the NBA and its teams have created 75 Reading and Learning Centers and more than 100 Reading Corners to enhance local reading programs across North America. Last year's unveiling of a Reading and Learning Center at Ithuteng Trust in Johannesburg, South Africa was the first opened outside of the United States and Canada.

"Basketball Without Borders is a perfect complement of community outreach and basketball development," said NBA Legend and Community Ambassador Bob Lanier. "NBA players have an extraordinary ability and commitment to touch the lives of young fans all over the world, and we are looking forward to going to Brazil so that we can touch the lives of more people in need."

The NBA has organized events in Latin America since 1992, including 21 exhibition games in Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. One of the highlights was the first and only NBA regular season game played in the region. Before a sold-out Palacio de los Deportes stadium in Mexico City on Dec. 6, 1997, Charles Barkley's Houston Rockets defeated the Dallas Mavericks 108 to 106. In 2002 and 2003, the NBA visited five countries as part of their annual Latinos Unidos Tour in which NBA players of Latin descent held basketball clinics and community relations' activities for underprivileged children.