NEW YORK – The NBA today announced the 22 top basketball players from the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) who will participate in the annual NBA/NWBA All-Star Wheelchair Classic at NBA All-Star 2013. The East and West Wheelchair All-Stars will face off on Center Court at Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center on Thursday, Feb. 14, at 6:30 p.m. CST, following the official opening of 2013 NBA All-Star Jam Session.  NBA Legends Bob Lanier, Bruce Bowen and Calvin Murphy, Los Angeles Sparks guard Lindsey Harding and New York Liberty forward DeMya Walker, and WNBA Legend Sheryl Swoopes will participate as honorary coaches.

A tradition that began at NBA All-Star 1998, the 2013 NBA/NWBA All-Star Wheelchair Classic will feature the top athletes from NBA affiliated NWBA teams. The players, selected by the NWBA, are divided into East and West All-Stars.  As part of the NBA Cares All-Star Community Caravan, NWBA All-Stars will also lead a basketball clinic for local youth athletes with lower limb impairments and their families immediately following the Wheelchair Classic.

“This year’s NWBA All-Star team includes six 2012 Paralympians from the London Paralympic Games, including a Gold Medalist from Canada and four Bronze Medalists from the USA,” said NWBA Executive Director Randy Schubert. “Our athletes are excited to not only have the opportunity to play in the Wheelchair Classic, but also to be able to work with local youth athletes and help them to see what they can achieve.”

“This year marks the 15th annual NBA/NWBA All-Star Wheelchair Classic, a milestone that highlights this event’s ongoing popularity,” said NBA Senior Vice President of Community Relations Todd Jacobson. “The All-Star Wheelchair Classic is great tradition that showcases amazing athletes who continue to inspire fans in NBA All-Star cities around the country.”

The National Wheelchair Basketball Association is comprised of more than 200 basketball teams within 22 conferences across the country. The NWBA was founded in 1948, and today consists of men’s, women’s, intercollegiate, and youth teams throughout the United States and Canada. For more information on the NWBA, please go to www.nwba.org.

NWBA East All-Star Team                                        NWBA West All-Star Team

East Head Coach – Parnes Cartwright                           West Head Coach – Mike Schlappi

Jose Garcia – Bulova Nets                                                          Jason Nelms – Dallas Wheelchair Mavericks

Steve Smutak – Cleveland Wheelchair Cavaliers                        Rodney Hawkins – Dallas Wheelchair Mavericks

Ben Chevillon – Chicago Wheelchair Bulls                    Bobbie Nickleberry – Dallas Wheelchair Mavericks

Curtis Lease – Chicago Wheelchair Bulls                                   Justin Obermeyer – Denver Rolling Nuggets

Jacob Goforth– Magee Sixers Spokesman                                  Joe Chambers – Golden State Road Warriors

Manuel Rodriguez – Miami Heat Wheels                                    Trooper Johnson – Golden State Road Warriors

Joseph Henry – New Orleans Rollin’ Hornets                Hassan Elkhadi – Houston Punishers

Faizool Ali – New York Rollin’ Knicks                          Michael Garafola – L.A. Clippers Chairmen

Steve Serio – RHI Pacers                                                            Alex Grunstein – L.A. Clippers Chairmen

Brian Bell – RHI Pacers                                                  Kelly Case – Phoenix Banner Wheelchair Suns

Patrick Anderson – Toronto Raptors                               Jeffrey Griffin – Utah Wheelin’ Jazz

Fans can log on to NBA.com/jamsession for more information on NBA All-Star Jam Session.