NEW YORK, October 21 – The National Basketball Association’s All-Star Reading Team was announced today, officially tipping off Read to Achieve Week. Players and coaches from the NBA, WNBA and NBDL, along with some celebrity fans will comprise a long list of reading enthusiasts eager to encourage young people to make reading an important part of their lives.

Read to Achieve Week, beginning Monday, October 21 and ending Friday, October 25, will provide the entire NBA family an opportunity to reach out in local communities with an array of events celebrating the joy of reading and the success it brings in life. Numerous events will be hosted by members of the 2002-2003 All-Star Reading Team, on which all 29 NBA teams are represented, and features stars such as Paul Pierce, Jason Richardson, Steve Francis, Kobe Bryant, Elton Brand, Shane Battier, Ray Allen, Jason Kidd, Grant Hill, Tim Duncan and Karl Malone.

The Warriors' Jason Richardson is one of the many stars who will host events as members of the All-Star Reading Team.
Rocky Widner
NBAE/Getty Images
“I’m excited to be a part of this program,” Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce said. “Reading obviously plays a major role in becoming successful, but it can also be fun and entertaining.”

The All-Star Reading Team also features NBA Commissioner David Stern; NBA Players Association Executive Director Billy Hunter; NBA legends Bob Lanier, Nate “Tiny” Archibald, Clyde Drexler, Joe Dumars and Chris Mullin; as well as WNBA President Val Ackerman and All-Stars Sheryl Swoopes, Sue Bird and Chamique Holdsclaw. Many celebrity fans of the League, such as film stars Freddie Prinze Jr. and Anthony Anderson and television star Frankie Muniz, also have aligned themselves with the campaign, as have some extended members of the NBA family: Althea Williams, Mother of Jay Williams; Calvin Hill, Father of Grant Hill; and Kay Malone, wife of Karl Malone. Another large contingent of All-Star Reading Team members hail from the NBA’s broadcast partners. TNT commentators Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Danny Ainge, Kevin Harlan and Cheryl Miller will join new NBA broadcast partner ESPN commentators David Aldridge and Kevin Frazier, as well as USA Today’s Sports Editor Oscar Dixon and Chicago Sun-Times Columnist Rick Telander in supporting Read to Achieve.

I know that reading is something that can open many doors, especially when it’s encouraged at a young age,” said Lanier, Special Assistant to the Commissioner and All-Star Reading Team Captain. “Our All-Star Reading Team is full of influential people who believe this message and are eager to share it.”

The NBA’s Read to Achieve campaign is a year-round national program designed to help young people develop a lifelong love for reading and online literacy as well as encourage adults to read and talk with children. Reaching an estimated 50 million children a year, Read to Achieve is the most extensive educational outreach initiative in the history of professional sports. The effort includes the annual donation of more than 300,000 books and the creation of Reading and Learning Centers in schools and community based organizations throughout the country. The program receives league wide support from the entire NBA family. In addition to being supported by the 29 NBA teams, 16 WNBA teams and the eight NBDL teams, Read to Achieve is supported by the NBA’s Officials, parents and wives of players organizations, and the NBA Players Association and Retired Players Association. Read to Achieve also expands the NBA’s existing partnerships with Scholastic Inc. and Reading is Fundamental (RIF).

The NBA, its teams and players are committed to programs that improve the quality of life for all people, and has created and implemented programs that address important social issues, with a special emphasis on reading and online literacy initiatives for children. The NBA and its teams make a difference in North America through donations to charities, the implementation of community outreach initiatives and through the production and airing of public service announcements.


2002-03 READ TO ACHIEVE NBA/WNBA ALL-STA READING TEAM

Atlanta Hawks: Theo Ratliff, Jason Terry; Boston Celtics: Paul Pierce, Ed Lacerte (Head Trainer); Charlotte Sting: Kelly Miller; Chicago Bulls: Jalen Rose, Jay Williams, Althea Williams; Cleveland Cavaliers & Rockers: Chris Mihm, Chastity Melvin, Penny Taylor; Dallas Mavericks: Avery Johnson, Eduardo Najera; Denver Nuggets: Juwan Howard, Marcus Camby; Detroit Pistons & Shock: Michael Curry, Corliss Williamson, Deanna Nolan, Swin Cash; Golden State Warriors: Jason Richardson, Tom Abdenour (Head Trainer); Houston Rockets & Comets: Steve Francis, Sheryl Swoopes; Los Angeles Lakers & Sparks: Kobe Bryant; Los Angeles Clippers: Corey Maggette, Elton Brand; Memphis Grizzlies: Shane Battier, Brevin Knight; Miami Heat & Sol: Laphonso Ellis, Ruth Riley; Milwaukee Bucks: Ray Allen; Minnesota Timberwolves & Lynx: Wally Szczerbiak, Katie Smith, Tamika Williams; New Jersey Nets: Jason & Joumanna Kidd, Byron Scott; New Orleans Hornets: David Wesley, Paul Silas; New York Knicks & Liberty: Allan Houston, Wade Houston, Becky Hammon; Orlando Magic: Grant Hill, Calvin Hill, Pat Garrity, Doc Rivers; Philadelphia 76ers: Todd MacCulloch, Keith Van Horn, Larry Brown; Phoenix Suns & Mercury: Tom Gugliotta, Lisa Harrison; Portland Trail Blazers & Fire: Dale Davis, Jackie Stiles; Sacramento Kings & Monarchs: Doug Christie, Kedra Holland-Corn, Yolanda Griffith; San Antonio Spurs: David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Steve &Millie Smith; Seattle Supersonics & Storm: Desmond Mason, Sue Bird, Simone Edwards; Toronto Raptors: Vince Carter, Michelle Williams; Utah Jazz & Starrz: Karl Malone & Kay Malone, Jaron Collins, Marie Ferdinand; Washington Wizards & Mystics: Jahidi White, Jerry Stackhouse, Chamique Holdsclaw, Murriel Page

MEDIA PARTNERS: Cheryl Miller, Ernie Johnson, Danny Ainge, Kevin Harlan, Kevin Frazier, Oscar Dixon, David Aldridge, Kenny Smith

CELEBRITIES: Frankie Muniz, Jerry O’Connell, Anthony Anderson, Freddie Prinze, Jr., Debbie Allen

AUTHORS: Rick Telander, Charisse Richardson, Meg Cabot, Walter Dean Myers

NATIONAL BASKETBALL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: Jeff Malone, Tree Rollins, Sam Vincent, Stephanie Ready

OFFICIALS: James Capers, Ted Bernhardt, Joey Crawford, Marc Davis, Luis Grillo, Violet Palmer, Bill Spooner, Greg Willard, Dick Bavetta, Tommy Nunez, Ronnie Nunn

FORMER PLAYERS/LEGENDS: Bob Lanier, Mike Bantom, Nate “Tiny” Archibald, Joe Dumars, Chris Mullin, Clyde Drexler, Norm Nixon

OTHER: David Stern, Billy Hunter, Russ Granik, Adam Silver, Val Ackerman, Stu Jackson, Carol Rasco, Dick Robinson