Special Olympic athletes from all over the valley participated in a basketball clinic hosted by the Phoenix Suns and Special Olympics of Arizona at the US Airways Center, on March 12th. The clinic included several NBA Legends and Phoenix Suns alumni who gave the athletes tips on succeeding in basketball.

The clinic opened with Special Olympics of Arizona host Tom Fraker welcoming the athletes and introducing the NBA Legends. The crowd gave Phoenix Suns Alumni Tom Chambers a warm welcome. Chamber introduced the Phoenix Suns Alumni and talked about his partnership with Special Olympics of Arizona. After the introductions, athletes were divided into five groups and rotated to stations around the U.S. Airways Center.

Each station focused on a specific basketball skill and included one NBA Legend, Phoenix Suns Alumni and volunteer coach. On the main court Phoenix Suns Alumni Mark West and NBA Legend Bernard Thompson focused on improving shooting skills with the athletes. Athletes did several rounds of lay-ups and jump shots before moving on to the next station.

NBA Legend Steve Colter helped athletes improve their skills at the dribbling station. Special Olympic athletes participated in dribbling drills and contests. Some athletes were even skilled enough to practice dribbling behind their backs! After practicing several dribbling skills, the athletes moved on to passing drills with NBA Legend Matt Fish and Phoenix Suns Alumni Tim Kempton. Athletes were paired with a partner and learned drills to improve all their passing skills. Athletes got the opportunity to learn a bounce pass, chest pass and overhead pass.

In between stations, athletes were able to refresh themselves at the Gatorade Hydration Zone. While re-hydrating athletes signed a banner for the Phoenix Suns wishing them good luck with the rest of the season. The banner was hung outside the Phoenix Suns locker room, so that Phoenix Suns players could read it as they entered the locker room.

After the athletes participated in each station, NBA Legends and Phoenix Suns Alumni signed autographs for all the athletes. Every athlete received a Phoenix Suns cinch backpack, Phoenix Suns pencil, Phoenix Suns 2008 yearbook and a Gorilla bobble body.

The Phoenix Suns Gorilla made a surprise visit to thank all the athletes for their hard work. The Gorilla riled up the athletes and threw t-shirts and Gorilla basketballs out to the participants. The night of fun and hard work ended with the Gorilla showing off a few of his high flying dunks!