Mexican-born Eduardo Najera of the New Jersey Nets will lead Basketball without Borders Americas taking place in Mexico City from August 6 to 9, the National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), and the National Sport and Physical Culture Commission in Mexico (CONADE) announced today. Basketball without Borders (BWB) is the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development program that uses the sport to create positive social change in the areas of education, health and wellness.Read More
 NBA players and coaches led a special clinic for eight 16-&-under girls’ national teams 
Before the BWB Americas campers took the floor this morning, the NBA players and coaches led a special clinic for eight 16-&-under girls’ national teams who were on-site at CNAR training for the FIBA Americas U16 Championship next week. Teams from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the USA were divided up by position to run through drills with the BWB Americas coaches. One of the greatest women’s basketball players in Brazilian history, Hortencia Marcari, attended the clinic with her team. “I thought this clinic between NBA players and the different girl’s national teams was absolutely a great thing for the sport of basketball. This clinic and this event (BWB Americas) are extremely important for the sport because it promotes the sharing of skills and the interaction between basketball players from all around the world. My only suggestion to improve this overall event is to welcome more women’s basketball.” Marcari is a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the FIBA Hall of Fame. The final two games of BWB Americas team competition were played before the All-Star action got started. Eduardo Najera and Kelvin Sampson’s Nets (2-1) had a rematch against their only loss, Willie Green and Jack Sikma’s Rockets (3-0), in the highly anticipated championship game. The teams were going basket for basket throughout the first two quarters. At the half, the Nets had a three point lead over the Rockets. The lead was quickly diminished in the third quarter, but with just under five minutes left to play, the Nets rallied to a six point lead. They were able to hold on to upset the undefeated Rockets 55-43 and claim the title of BWB Americas Camp Champions. While the campers were attending a Life Skills seminar on the importance of leadership, BWB Coach Kelvin Sampson ran a coaching clinic for a group of Mexican basketball coaches from CONADE, the Mexican government’s sport ministry. Following the CONADE clinic, 30 athletes from the local area played a wheelchair basketball exhibition game on the main court. When the All-Star rosters were announced, Argentina had the strongest representation with four All-Stars. Brazil, Canada and Uruguay each had three. Team Rojo, coached by Kelvin Sampson, Austin Ainge, Eduardo Najera and Sam Dalembert were the 53-38 victors over Team Blanco, coached by Jack Sikma, Kenny Atkinson, Al Horford and Willie Green. Mark Boff served as trainer for both teams. After the All-Star game presented by Nike, there was an awards presentation where the following winners were announced:
BWB Leadership Award Jahenns-Ley (Canada) Before heading back to their dorms, Rich Sheubrooks of Nike gave closing remarks commending the players on their dedication to the sport and reminding them that “open minds open doors.”
 Round table discussions at Cauce Ciudadano Community Center
Day three of Basketball without Borders Americas 2009 started off bright and early with morning skills stations. Today, campers were broken down by position and ran through drills covering skills specific to where they play on the floor. Willie Green from the Philadelphia 76ers and Al Horford from the Atlanta Hawks coached the guards, with Green teaching offense and Horford covering defense. Sam Dalembert from the Philadelphia 76ers and Eduardo Najera from the New Jersy Nets teamed up to train the forwards and centers. The teams were together for afternoon practice sessions and controlled scrimmages to prepare for the second round of team games. Basketball without Borders Americas community outreach for today took place at Cauce Ciudadano Community Center, a youth program that address Mexico’s increasing problem with youth violence. Created by a former gang member, Carlos Cruz, Cauce Ciudadano promotes a model of violence prevention that identifies influential gang leaders and helps create new roles for them as nonviolent role models in their schools. The NBA players and coaches joined UNICEF and MTV vee-jay Ilana Sod for group discussions with some of the Cauce Ciudando youth covering a range of topics from ever growing challenge of drugs and drug related violence to how basketball and teamwork can be a vehicle to connect to a community and affect change. Basketball without Borders Americas 2009 wraps-up tomorrow with the much awaited BWB Americas All-Star Game presented by Nike, which will also feature the BWB Americas 3-Point Contest presented by EA Sports.
 BWB Americas 2009
Basketball without Borders Americas 2009 was officially started today at the tip-off press conference. NBA players, coaches and VIP guests were on hand to welcome the campers and to thank all of those who were integral in the development of this camp such as FIBA, CONADE, and BWB marketing partners. Over 70 media from major Mexican and international outlets were in attendance to cover the program and participate in a photo and interview session. Afterwards, the campers were divided up into the teams they were drafted to last night: 76ers, Hawks, Nets and Rockets. The teams participated in a round of morning skills sessions that covered post-moves, defensive footwork, passing and controlled ball handling. Both the campers and the NBA players and coaches were excited to get the basketball action started. The day was broken up by a NBA Cares and Special Olympics clinic for 80 athletes from across three Mexican states. All of the NBA players and coaches ran skill stations for the athletes from the Special Olympics Mexico, and the clinic closed with a shoot-out competition between two groups of 40 athletes. At the close of the clinic, everyone came together for a group photo and Al Horford from the Atlanta Hawks presented the athletes with an autographed ball and posters. The afternoon’s life skills session for the campers featured an interactive seminar to address health and wellness led by Mark Connolly from UNICEF Latin America, MTV Mexico VJ Ilana Sod, and Sam Dalembert from the 76ers. The program covered existing myths about HIV/AIDS and the 10 skills for life needed to prevent HIV/AIDS. After the life skills seminar, the campers reported back to the gym to have their first practice session with their coaches and teammates, where they quickly learned the offensive plays and defensive strategy they will use in their team competitions throughout the camp. It looks like there are going to be some competitive match-ups over the next three days.
 Sam at YMCA Mexico visit
Basketball without Borders Americas 2009 began today in Mexico City with a visit to the Casa YMCA para Menores Metropolitanos (YMCA Home for Urban Youth). Casa YMCA has served orphaned, abandoned, abused and street children since 1992 with the mission to provide them with an education and a safe place to live. The children of Casa YMCA greeted the NBA players and coaches by singing the traditional Mexican song El Cielito Lindo. Eager to show their home off, the children led the NBA group on a tour of the facility showcasing their dorms, classrooms and workshop where they create arts and crafts. The group gathered for a ribbon cutting for the new computer center equipped with six computers donated by Hewlett Packard (HP). Afterwards the players and coaches played traditional Mexican board games with the children, tested out the new computers and even shot hoops in the courtyard. After the community event, it was time to head to the gym to tip-off the basketball action. The campers received their Nike gear before facing off against each other in the EA Sports Gaming Tournament. Brazilian camper Olintho Pereira Silva faced NBA Player Willie Green in the final, but Green was victorious, showing he is just as good at virtual basketball as he is on the hardwood. Camp Director Gersson Rosas and Green then met with the campers to provide a camp overview and cover the rules for the next four days. The NBA coaches had their first look at the camper talent during the evaluation scrimmages in the afternoon. Coaches drafted their teams tonight and will coach those teams for the duration of the camp. NBA players, coaches, staff and BWB marketing partners came together at the end of the day to celebrate the start of the camp at a Welcome Reception recognizing all the key people that were integral in planning this year’s camp. Tomorrow the camp will officially start with the tip-off press conference at the gym followed by skill stations and the first round of team scrimmages. ¡Hasta mañana!
 Kyle Korver play with the kids in the newly refurbished basketball court in Latin Americas NBAE/Getty Images
Led by Mexican-born Eduardo Najera of the New Jersey Nets, Basketball without Borders (BWB) Americas will continue to use the platform of sport to create positive social change in the areas of education, and health and wellness with three NBA Cares events in Mexico, the National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), and the National Sport and Physical Culture Commission (CONADE) announced today..Read More
 Anderson Varejao with BWB Americas '07 Campers Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images
The National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), and the National Sport and Physical Culture Commission in Mexico (CONADE) today announced that more than 50 of the top athletes from across the continent will participate in Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Americas, a basketball instructional camp for young people that promotes friendship, healthy living and education. BWB Americas will feature Mexican-born Eduardo Najera of the New Jersey Nets in addition to current NBA players and team personnel, who will serve as camp coaches. Read More
 U.S. Olympians Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, and Dwight Howard NBAE/Getty Images
U.S. Olympians Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, and Dwight Howard will headline Basketball without Borders 2009 it was announced today by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). Basketball without Borders (BWB) is the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development program that uses the sport to create positive social change in the areas of education, health and wellness. The camps will be held in Beijing, China, Mexico City, Mexico and Johannesburg, South Africa. Read More
 Kids were thrilled to share the court with Nene NBAE/Getty Images
Basketball without Borders Americas 2007 took place July 31-Aug. 3, 2007 in São Paulo, Brazil. Brazilian natives Nenê of the Denver Nuggets, Leandro Barbosa of the Phoenix Suns, Anderson Varejao of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Rafael Araujo of the Utah Jazz and a host of NBA stars acted as coaches for the young athletes across the region.. Read More  Video Recap of BWB Americas 2007 in São Paulo Brazil
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