What do Ryan Smith, the governor of the Utah Jazz, and Brandon Flowers, lead singer of The Killers, have in common?

They are alumni of the Utah Jazz’s youth basketball program – the Junior Jazz, which now serves as a testament to the strength of basketball culture in Utah and beyond.

If you grew up in the area playing the game, whether at your local recreation center or at a camp working on your skills, there’s a good chance you participated in Junior Jazz – which has served close to 2 million youth over 40 years.

The rich relationship between the Jazz and their home community will be on full display as Salt Lake City hosts its first NBA All-Star weekend since 1993 and becomes the center of the basketball world.

The Jr. NBA, the league’s global youth basketball program for boys and girls, will work collaboratively with the Junior Jazz throughout NBA All-Star 2023, striving to deliver a fun, educational and overall positive experience for the close to 8,000 local youth who will participate in a wide range of virtual and in-person Jr. NBA and Junior Jazz programming.

There are 13 youth basketball development events on the itinerary for the weekend from a virtual basketball clinic to 5-on-5 tournaments, Jr. NBA Skills Challenge, referee and coach seminars, Respect the Game programming, Her Time To Play celebrations of girls basketball, and an educational STEM experience.

To tip off the festivities, more than 5,000 Utah elementary school students will join a virtual clinic on Thursday as NBA Legend Jason Collins, Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton and the Chicago Sky’s Kahleah Copper will lead a series of basketball drills and exercises, as well as a session focusing on mental and emotional wellbeing.

Also among the highlights of the weekend will be the sixth annual Jr. NBA Day. NBA, WNBA and NBA G League players and legends – including 2023 AT&T Slam Dunk Participants Kenyon Martin Jr. of the Houston Rockets and Jericho Sims of the New York Knicks, the Utah Jazz’s Jordan Clarkson and Sexton, former NBA players such as Joakim Noah and Jason Terry, the Dallas Wings’ Arike Ogunbowale, the Sky’s Copper and G League Ignite’s Shareef O’Neal – will make appearances as nearly 1,500 boys and girls engage in a variety of clinics focused on teaching fundamentals skills and core values of the game.

Nike will serve as the presenting partner of the Jr. NBA during NBA All-Star 2023, supporting the league’s youth basketball development programming throughout the weekend.

Here is a breakdown of the youth-specific events:

One of the main themes for the weekend is the NBA family coming to town, offering time and service in hopes of uplifting young people.

Providing ample opportunities for the youth and helping shape the next generation of NBA fans to be their best selves, both on and off the court, is one of the great joys of All-Star Weekend with former greats, current players, coaches, and rising G Leaguers taking part in the fun.

With a jam-packed weekend of youth events, there is a little something for everyone – inclusion is a priority for both the Jr. NBA and Junior Jazz.

The work of the organizations extends far beyond the basketball court, looking to help students with their physical and mental health, as well as help them create good habits moving forward in life.

Dallas Wings assistant coach Camille Little speaks to young players during the 2020 Jr. NBA 3v3 All-Star Tournament.

Nate Martinez, vice president of youth programs with the Utah Jazz, and David Krichavsky, NBA head of youth basketball development, spoke with NBA.com about the goals for the youth programs at All-Star Weekend 2023.

(Editor’s note: The following conversation has been condensed and edited.)

NBA.com: How important has it been for the Jazz to maintain a strong relationship with the surrounding youth communities?

Martinez: It is one of the most important initiatives we have within the organization. This is the 40th season of Junior Jazz. It gives us this connection to these kids who in a lot of other situations wouldn’t have that ability to come to our games, probably wouldn’t have the chance to meet the players. It’s our ability to reach out to kids and families and connect with the team.

NBA.com: This is the first All-Star Game in Utah since 1993. How great is it for the youth in the program to get this one-of-a-kind experience?

Martinez: It’s super cool, the Junior Jazz has turned into a generational thing. For example, my dad coached me when I played, now I’m coaching my kids. I remember going to All-Star in 1993 – to see it come back is so cool. Being able to share it – people who were kids the last time now being able to share it with their kids.

NBA.com: The first youth event this weekend is a virtual basketball clinic for over 5,000 students in Utah. How important is it that these initiatives reach across the entire state?

Martinez: As part of the All-Star Game we wanted to make sure it was a statewide game. That’s why Utah is on the logo.

Even if kids couldn’t come to the great activations we are having, they all had a chance to feel a part of the weekend. We will come to their schools, give away wristbands, give away prizes.

NBA.com: What are you most excited for the youth in the Junior Jazz program to experience this weekend?

Martinez: At the root of it, I hope they walk away with a deeper passion and love for the game of basketball. Hopefully, they can walk away with a stronger connection to the game, the Jazz and the NBA as a whole. There is something for everybody, whether it’s STEM or other on-court activities we’re doing.

NBA.com: With the Jr. NBA once again involved in All-Star weekend, how does it feel to keep growing these activations and to get to showcase these events in Utah?

Krichavsky: At the highest level; NBA All-Star is a celebration of the game at all levels. This includes the opportunity to showcase our values as a league – giving back to the community and engaging the youth. We are going big in Utah this year; we will have around 8,000 students engaged over Thursday-Sunday.

It’s exciting to do this in Utah, a community with such a rich basketball tradition – specifically engaging young people in the sport through the Junior Jazz.

NBA.com: A big theme when going over the youth events at All-Star Weekend is inclusion. How important is this from an organizational standpoint?

Krichavsky: That’s a fundamental value of the league as well as our youth basketball program. Ensuring the sport is available for everyone. That’s core to who we are as the NBA and the Jr. NBA.

We are particularly proud of our Her Time To Play initiative to expand and we are extremely proud of our partnership with Wheelchair Basketball, as well as our Special Olympics clinic.

NBA.com: How great is it that the NBA family is so active at youth events this weekend?

Krichavsky: We are going to have a combination of local legends, as well as current NBA players including the All-Star players who will join us at Jr. NBA day. A number of players from the WNBA as well as legends of the game. To be able to bring our best to these youth clinics creates an entirely different level of excitement. We’re going to look to bring this to as many kids as possible over the weekend.

NBA.com: The NBA and Jazz are putting on a Jr. NBA STEM Clinic, focusing on educational and social opportunities. How important is it to provide these kinds of off-court opportunities as well?

Krichavsky: The Jr. NBA is a holistic program. We focus as much off the court as we do on the court – really all of our programs have this element to them. Teaching life skills is very much embedded into what we do. At its core, Jr. NBA is about giving kids developmental opportunities through the sport of basketball, but we also have extensive programming over All-Star Weekend that reaches coaches and referees in order to assist them in their development in the sport and how they impact the youth.

NBA.com: After All-Star Weekend concludes, how does the Jr. NBA look to keep all this positive momentum and build on this growing relationship with the Utah Jazz and the youth in the area?

Krichavsky: It’s about continued engagement with the community. We are extraordinarily excited to be in Salt Lake City where the Jazz have built such a strong youth program. We know collectively as a league there is more we can do to reach more youth and increase the depth of our programming. Our goal for Utah is to highlight the Junior Jazz and to help them continue to grow their program and elevate what they do.

NBA.com: On a personal note, what are you most excited about for these youth activations over All-Star Weekend?

Krichavsky: As a father of two young girls, our Her Time To Play initiative is one I’m always particularly fond of. Also just to see the look on the kids faces when some of these NBA All-Star players come out and get on the court, assisting these young people in drills. Those moments are priceless and will lead to memories for those kids and the Utah community for years and years to come.

The work of these two programs together looks to make All-Star Weekend 2023 in Utah one of the biggest youth initiatives the league has ever seen. The Jazz’s deep cultural ties with the community will be at the forefront of what will be an exciting, action-packed-filled All-Star Weekend.

To learn more about the Junior Jazz and all of the youth programs the Utah Jazz have to offer such as Kids Club, Camps + Clinics click here.

For more information about the Jr. NBA and to learn about the league’s youth initiatives, click here.