PARIS, APRIL 11, 2007 – Basketball without Borders Europe will be held in Paris, France, at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin on Aug. 6-10, the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) announced today. The NBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program uses the sport to influence positive social change and features dozens of current and former NBA players and team personnel as camp coaches.

Paris , France Aug. 6-10

“Basketball without Borders is well established as the NBA’s innovative global program and further demonstrates the commitment of the NBA family, its teams, players and coaching staff in reaching out to communities worldwide through NBA Cares,” said Kathleen Behrens, Senior Vice President, NBA Community & Player Programs. “Together with FIBA and our marketing partners’ commitment to social responsibility, these camps exemplify the concept of using basketball to achieve a greater goal of influencing social change around the world.”

The camp will unite the top young basketball players (ages 19 & under) from across the region to take part in basketball instruction and competition. Camp participants are selected by FIBA and participating basketball federations based on their basketball skills, leadership abilities and dedication to the sport . To promote friendship and diversity, the campers will be divided into teams without regard to race and nationality. They also will participate in motivational and life-skills seminars that promote education, leadership, character development, and healthy living with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.

The camp will also be highlighted by extensive community outreach with efforts culminating in an NBA Cares Legacy Project. Through Basketball without Borders, the NBA and its partners have created 26 places around the world where families and children can live, learn or play.

This year's camp will mark a return home for seven French NBA players, reinforcing their commitment to their communities. Joining Parker and Diaw as camp coaches will be fellow countrymen Seattle SuperSonics forward Mickael Gelabale and center Johan Petro, Los Angeles Lakers forward Ronny Turiaf, Denver Nuggets guard Yakhouba Diawara and Golden State Warriors forward Mickael Pietrus. Other NBA players taking part include Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert ( Haiti), Chicago Bulls guard Chris Duhon and Orlando Magic forward Bo Outlaw. NBA team personnel include Jim Eyen, Rory White and Neal Meyer of the Los Angeles Clippers, Brian Hill of the Orlando Magic, Don Newman of the San Antonio Spurs and NBA coach Terry Stotts. Marin Sedlacek (Serbia and Montenegro), who is a FIBA Expert for Europe, Asia and Africa with more than 25 years of coaching experience, will oversee as camp director for the seventh time.

“It's great to have such an incredible program in my home country," said Parker. "I look forward to sharing this NBA experience with the other players and NBA personnel participating in this phenomenal instructional camp that combines the sport of basketball with education and community outreach.”

“For the seventh consecutive summer, FIBA is proud of its successful partnership with the NBA for Basketball without Borders, an ambitious program that helps to promote the sport of basketball with European youth,” said FIBA Development Director Zoran Radoviæ. “We are convinced that this summer the beautiful city of Paris will be a perfect host for all the international basketball stars. Many of them born in Europe, who are excelling in the NBA, and will be exceptional camp coaches.”

“The French Basketball Federation (FFBB) has always concentrated its efforts on implementing programs dedicated to detect and form our own young basketball players. At present, basketball is one of the top sports in our country with about four million participants, 455,000 are officially registered with our federation,” said FFBB President Yvan Mainini. “We wish to extend a warm welcome to Basketball without Borders Europe during this very special year as we celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the FFBB. We are pleased to work with FIBA and the NBA to ensure great success for this program and for basketball in France.”

Since the inaugural camp in 2001, Basketball without Borders has expanded its reach to nine countries and territories on five continents. The program has featured more than 160 NBA players, coaches and team personnel from 30 different teams as camp coaches and mentors for more than 1,000 young athletes from 100 countries and territories. This year, more than 65 members of the NBA family will take part, including more than 30 current and former NBA coaches and team personnel.

The NBA family and the campers have traveled more than 85 million miles and logged more than one million hours of community service participating in Basketball without Borders. In addition, the program has reached countless others through its community outreach efforts in each region .

Nike, Hannspree and Spalding are the official Marketing Partners for the event. A Basketball without Borders marketing partner since 2002, Nike will again outfit all the camp participants and coaches with Nike footwear and apparel.

“We at Nike are extremely pleased with our partnership with Basketball without Borders and the NBA. The program teaches young basketball players the importance of hard work, dedication, teamwork and sportsmanship,” said George Raveling, Global Director, Nike Basketball Sports Marketing. “These are all vital attributes to the young campers, which will serve them well in the future both on and off the court, and we are proud to be working with the NBA and FIBA in Europe and the Americas to promote these values.”

The inaugural Basketball without Borders took place in Europe in July 2001. NBA legends Vlade Divac and Toni Kukoc, together with five other NBA players from the former Yugoslavia, re-united to work with 50 children from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia and Montenegro at La Ghirada in Treviso, Italy. In addition to Europe, Basketball without Borders Asia will return to Shanghai, China July 5-8, Basketball without Borders Americas will take place July 31-Aug. 3 in São Paulo, Brazil and Basketball without Borders Africa will return to Johannesburg, South Africa Sept. 5-9.

The NBA, founded in 1946, is a global sports and entertainment brand that features 30 teams in the United States and Canada. During the 2005-06 season, the NBA distributed 44,000 hours of programming to 215 countries and territories in 43 languages. The league’s worldwide reach can also be seen with 85 international players on NBA rosters. As fans witness tremendous performances on the court, some of the NBA's most significant efforts occur off the court. This past year, the league launched its most ambitious community outreach endeavor, NBA Cares. Over a five-year span, players and teams will raise and contribute $100 million for charity, donate more than one million hours of volunteer service to communities worldwide, and build more than 100 educational and athletic facilities where children can learn and play. For more information on the NBA, visit NBA.com.

The following is a tentative list of current and former NBA players who are scheduled to participate in Basketball without Borders Europe 2007: