NEW YORK, June 27, 2005 -- This year’s NBA Summer of Goodwill tips off with a Basketball & Books Clinic led by the top 15 NBA Draft Prospects for the youth at the Children’s Aid Society’s New Heights Program at the Dunlevy Milbank Center. The NBA Summer of Goodwill will feature hundreds of charity basketball games, fundraisers, free basketball clinics and community appearances led by current and former NBA players.

Each year, NBA players donate millions of dollars and thousands of hours to charity and community outreach programs during the season as well as the off-season. During this year’s NBA Summer of Goodwill, players from around the league will continue a long-standing NBA tradition by hosting hundreds of community events and appearances in the United States, Canada and abroad.

“Our players understand giving back to their community is one of the most fulfilling acts a person can do,” said Bob Lanier, Basketball Hall of Famer and special assistant to the Commissioner. “Our players do not forget where they came from and by returning to their hometown or the city where they played in college or during the pros, they know it means a lot to the fans and the community.”

Starting at the end of June, current and former players Dikembe Mutombo, Andrei Kirilenko, Marcus Camby and Yao Ming, will participate in Basketball without Borders camps in Argentina, China, Italy and South Africa. Basketball without Borders camps promote grass roots basketball development, and HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness.

Since the 1980’s, the NBA has sanctioned basketball games allowing NBA players to showcase their on-court skills while raising money for charities and philanthropic causes. These charity games along with free basketball clinics, appearances and fundraisers, give NBA players the opportunity to say “thank you” to the fans that support them throughout the year.

A sampling of events during the NBA Summer of Goodwill:

  • The inaugural LeBron’s King for Kids Bikeathon took place on June 25 with some of the NBA’s brightest stars; Houston Rockets All-Star Tracy McGrady; Miami Heat All-Star Dwayne Wade, Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony, and Cleveland Cavaliers Head Coach Mike Brown and forward Drew Gooden came to Akron to ride with LeBron James. The James Family Foundation will donate proceeds from the event to the Akron Area YMCA and the Akron Urban League. Registration forms are also available at the any of the City of Akron's recreation centers, Akron Area YMCA branches, and the Akron Urban League.

  • Lamar Odom will host the Lincoln Park Music Jam with Elton Brand, Caron Butler, Speedy Claxton, Emeka Okafor and Jalen Rose on July 9. There will be basketball tournaments, a three on three celebrity tournament, carnival games, and a Read to Achieve area for celebrities and players benefiting Odom’s Foundation.

  • Vince Carter's Charity Golf Classic on July 24 at the LPGA International will benefit the Embassy of Hope.

  • The Dirk Nowitzki Basketball Camp will be held in Germany throughout the summer.

  • Peja Stojakovic Children's Foundation charity golf tournament will be held on July 25 in Merrillville, Indiana.

    2005 NBA/NBPA Sanctioned Charity Basketball Games

  • Name: Eduardo Najera Charity Game
    Date of Event: July 9
    Location: Autonoma University, Chihuahua, Mexico
    Beneficiary: Eduardo Nájera Foundation for Latin Achievement

  • Name: Zo's Summer Groove (hosted by Alonzo Mourning)
    Date of Event: July 16
    Location: American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
    Beneficiaries: Alonzo Mourning Charities; Children's Home Society; 100 Black Men of S. Fl; Overtown Youth Center

  • Name: A Midsummer Night's Magic (hosted by Magic Johnson)
    Date of Event: July 17
    Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles CA
    Beneficiaries: Caring for Children & Families With AIDS (Los Angeles, CA), Taylor Michael Scholarship Program (Beverly Hills, CA)

  • Name: Chicagoland All-Star Game (hosted by Antoine Walker and Tim Hardaway)
    Date of Event: July 23
    Location: United Center, Chicago, IL
    Beneficiaries: The Support Group, Inc., 8 Foundation

  • Name: Steve Nash Foundation Charity Classic
    Date of Event: July 29
    Location: Air Canada Center, Toronto, ON
    Beneficiary: The Steve Nash Foundation

  • Name: Dan Dickau Charity Classic
    Date of Event: July 30
    Location: Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA
    Beneficiary: Catholic Charities, Inc., INSCT / CMS

  • Name: World's Greatest Alumni Game (hosted by Jerry Stackhouse)
    Date of Event: August 7
    Location: Dean E. Smith Center, Chapel Hill, NC
    Beneficiaries: Carolina Pros, Inc., The Triple Threat Foundation

  • Name: Lute Olson All-Star Classic
    Date of Event: August 14
    Location: McKale Memorial Center, Tucson, AZ
    Beneficiary: University of Arizona Scholarship Fund

  • Name: Steve Francis Summer Fiesta
    Date of Event: August 21
    Location: Toyota Center, Houston, TX
    Beneficiaries: Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, The Brenda Wilson Scholarship FundFoundation

  • Name: New York All-Star Basketball Classic (Wheelchair Charities)
    Date of Event: September 14
    Location: St. Johns University, Queens, NY
    Beneficiaries: Wheelchair Charities, Inc.

    2005 Basketball without Borders

  • Basketball without Borders – Americas
    June 30-July 4
    Centro Nacional de Alto Rendimiento Deportivo (C.E.N.A.R.D.) Buenos Aires, Argentina
    Samuel Dalembert Philadelphia 76ers Haiti
    Carlos Delfino Detroit Pistons Argentina
    Manu Ginobili San Antonio Spurs Argentina
    Marcelo Milanesio Argentine National Team Argentina
    Dikembe Mutombo Houston Rockets Congo
    Andres Nocioni Chicago Bulls Argentina
    Pepe Sanchez Argentine National Team Argentina
    Daniel Santiago Milwaukee Bucks Puerto Rico

  • Basketball without Borders – Asia
    July 14-17
    Beijing Olympic Training Facility, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
    Mengke Bateer Former FIBA/NBA Player China
    Samuel Dalembert Philadelphia 76ers Haiti
    Ha Seung-Jin Portland Trail Blazers South Korea
    Kyle Korver Philadelphia 76ers USA
    Bostjan Nachbar New Orleans Hornets Slovenia
    Tony Parker San Antonio Spurs France
    Yao Ming Houston Rockets China

  • Basketball without Borders – Europe
    July 28-31
    Treviso, Italy, La Ghirada Sport Center (Benetton)
    Primoz Brezec Charlotte Bobcats Slovenia
    Gordan Giricek Utah Jazz Croatia
    Andrei Kirilenko Utah Jazz Russia
    Dirk Nowitzki Dallas Mavericks Germany
    Zaza Pachulia Milwaukee Bucks Georgia

  • Basketball without Borders – Africa
    September 7-12
    Johannesburg, South Africa, American International School of Johannesburg
    Manute Bol Former NBA Player Sudan
    Marcus Camby Denver Nuggets USA
    Luol Deng Chicago Bulls Sudan
    Obinna Ekezie Atlanta Hawks Nigeria
    DeSagana Diop Cleveland Cavaliers Senegal
    Maciej Lampe New Orleans Hornets Poland
    Mike Miller Memphis Grizzlies USA
    Dikembe Mutombo Houston Rockets Congo
    Mamadou N’diaye LA Clippers Senegal
    Lamar Odom LA Lakers USA