NEW YORK, April 27, 2007 -- The NBA goes back to basketball basics with the launch of NBA Nation presented by T-Mobile, The NBA’s largest mobile playground. The tour will begin on Saturday, April 28, in Houston, TX, at the Houston International Festival and will bring the excitement of the 2007 NBA Playoffs and Finals to over one million fans nationwide by providing numerous free basketball activities and giveaways.

NBA Nation finishes its summer-long tour in patriotic fashion, with its last stop in Philadelphia, PA, on July 4, 2007. The tour will travel over 8,000 miles between Houston and Philadelphia stopping in Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, New York City, and Washington D.C. along the way.

NBA Nation presented by T-Mobile is a customized 18-wheel vehicle which transforms into a 30,000 square-foot fan-focused basketball playground. Among other activities, NBA Nation offers the Skills Challenge Competition which gives NBA fans the opportunity to show off their dribbling, passing, and shooting skills. Participants in each city will compete against each other for their city’s best time and a chance to earn a trip to Philadelphia. The results will be posted on nba.com/nation. As an added bonus, fans can compare their times to those of the 2007 All-Star Skills Challenge competitors, which were recorded during NBA All-Star festivities.

“NBA Nation provides fans of all ages a chance to get into the action and compete like the pros,” said NBA Vice President, Events and Attractions, Gail Hunter. “We are especially excited to offer fans a chance to compete in a tournament-style event, which culminates in a Skills Challenge Finals in Philadelphia.”

NBA Nation presented by T-Mobile features the following activities:

  • Skills Challenge -- Fans can show off their dribbling and shooting skills on two 40' x 40' basketball half courts.
  • The fan with the best Skills Challenge time from each city will win the opportunity to travel to Philadelphia to compete in the “NBA Nation Skills Challenge Competition Finals,” which will take place on the July 4, 2007.
  • Measure Up – “Get-A-Grip,” “Walk of Fame,” “Tall & Short” and “Reach for the Stars,” where fans can compare their hand size, foot size and height with those of their favorite NBA and WNBA players.
  • “NBA’s Greatest” – Allows fans to select and view the Top 50 Plays and Players in NBA history via touch-screen technology as well as play the latest video game titles in the NBA Arcade.

    “NBA Nation is an important platform for our marketing partners including presenting sponsor T-Mobile, in addition to other partners Lenovo, Sprite, Asthma Foundation & TEVA Pharma, and Toyota, to connect with over one million fans through a variety of interactive basketball activities and appearances by their favorite players,” said NBA Senior Vice President, Marketing Partnerships, Mark Tatum.

    NBA Nation partners will present the following:

  • T-Mobile Tent – Fans can stop by to check out the latest T-Mobile products, and spin the prize wheel for a chance to win various prizes including the T-Mobile Sidekick 3, D-Wade edition, T-Mobile Sidekick 3 and T-Mobile Sidekick iD.
  • T-Mobile Sales Tent – The T-Mobile sales team will be on site selling the latest T-Mobile products and services where fans can stop by to check out the special offers.
  • T-Mobile Half Court – NBA fans can take part in on-going activities, shoot around with NBA players and legends and walk away with cool T-Mobile NBA prizes.
  • T-Mobile VIP Sidekick Lounge – Special guests can swing up to the roofdeck to sit back and enjoy VIP treatment alongside the sounds of DJ Dallas Green, special access required.
  • Sprite Slam Dunk Court and Sprite Slam Dunk Photos – After showing off their slam dunk skills; fans can have their game face immortalized in a photo showcasing their best dunk moves.
  • Toyota Finals Trophy Tour Area – Fans get into the Playoff action and have their picture taken with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy and the All-New 2007 Tundra “Trophy Mobile.”
  • Lenovo Courtside Commentator – NBA announcers-in-training can call their favorite plays and take home a DVD of their commentary.
  • Asthma Foundation & TEVA Pharma – Fans can take part in on-site asthma screening and learn more about asthma and how to live an active life.

    The schedule for NBA Nation presented by T-Mobile is:
    Date
    City
    Event
    April 28-29
    Houston, TX
    Houston International Festival
    May 11-13
    Atlanta, GA
    Sweet Auburn Springfest
    May 19-20
    Los Angeles, CA
    Santa Monica Pier
    May 26-27
    San Francisco, CA
    Carnaval
    June 2-3
    Miami, FL
    Goombay Festival
    June 16-17
    New York, NY
    South Street Seaport
    June 23-24
    Washington, DC
    Capitol BBQ Battle
    July 3-4
    Philadelphia, PA
    Welcome America