NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2015 – As the world turns its eyes to New York City and NBA All-Star 2015, taking place throughout all five boroughs from Feb. 13-15, the NBA will celebrate the rich history of New York City basketball by unveiling the first-ever History of New York City Basketball map, available via the NBA All-Star NYC app and on NBA.com and the NBA Game Time app, beginning today.
The map is available for download at: http://is.nba.com/ASTAR_2015/NYC_BB_Map_2615.jpg
As part of this celebration, the NBA will distribute 5,000 copies of the map to community-based organizations and schools across the five boroughs.
Filled with information on more than 500 New York City legends, this interactive basketball experience, which includes highlights of more than 150 icons and more than 140 unique photos, pays tribute to the players, coaches and teams who not only wrote the history of the game in the city, but also contributed to its growth worldwide. Spotlighting more than 100 city landmarks and schools located throughout the five boroughs, the map recognizes the Big Apple’s contribution to the high school, collegiate and professional game.
A History of New York City Basketball celebrates the rich tradition of the New York Knicks, the Brooklyn Nets and pro legends such as Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe who thrived in the city. The map also tells the stories of native New Yorkers who went on to basketball stardom around the globe, such as Bob Cousy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Connie Hawkins, Chris Mullin and Kenny Smith. From the Harlem Rens to the Harlem Globetrotters and from Red Auerbach to Red Holzman, the map is an expansive history of this cradle of basketball excellence that has stretched more than a century.
While Manhattan’s Madison Square Garden and Brooklyn’s Barclays Center are focal points, the map also locates destinations like the 69th Regiment Armory, the onetime home of the New York Knicks; the site of the former Power Memorial Academy at 61st Street and Columbus Avenue, alma mater of NBA Legends such as Len Elmore and Abdul-Jabbar; and Rucker Park, a playground basketball mecca that has hosted NBA legends such as Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Nate “Tiny” Archibald, and Kevin Durant.
A History of Basketball in New York City: By-The-Numbers
· More than 500 New York City Legends
· More than 150 Player Videos
· More than 140 Archived Photos
· More than 100 New York City Landmarks and Schools
· More than 60 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers and Honorees
· More than 100 Years of New York City Basketball History
About NBA All-Star 2015NBA All-Star 2015 in New York City will bring together some of the most talented and passionate players in the league’s history for a global celebration of the game. The 64th NBA All-Star Game, which will take place Sunday, Feb. 15 at Madison Square Garden, will reach fans in 215 countries and territories in 47 languages. TNT will televise the All-Star Game for the 13th consecutive year, marking Turner Sports' 30th year of All-Star coverage, as well as the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge on Friday, Feb. 13 and State Farm All-Star Saturday Night on Saturday, Feb. 14, which will both take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Other events at Barclays Center include the NBA Development League All-Star Game presented by Kumho Tire and the NBA Development League Dream Factory presented by Boost Mobile on Sunday, Feb. 15, airing on NBA TV. Madison Square Garden will host Friday night’s ESPN-televised Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.