SÃO PAULO – The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced the launch of “NBA Station,” a new program designed to inspire and unite local communities in Brazil by refurbishing basketball courts in public parks across the country.  NBA Station tipped off with a court refurbishment and celebration at Villa-Lobos State Park in São Paulo on Friday, June 2, which featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony, youth basketball clinic, on-court challenges and performances by the Cleveland Cavaliers Scream Team and Milwaukee Bucks mascot Bango.

Through NBA Station, the league will collaborate with local artists to develop culturally relevant designs for the refurbished courts and host a variety of events and programming for aspiring players, fans and families at the courts, including Jr. NBA and NBA Basketball School clinics, appearances by NBA and WNBA legends, partner activations, performances by NBA mascots and dance teams, and other activities that will showcase Brazil’s passion for basketball and the NBA.

“We’re proud to launch NBA Station, which will build on our ongoing commitment to create more opportunities for youth to play basketball while using our platform to create meaningful change in communities across the country,” said Head of NBA Brazil Rodrigo Vicentini.  “Through this program, fans, players and families will have access to beautiful new courts and exciting programming where they can come together to celebrate their shared love of the game.”

The NBA is collaborating with Hoopers – a Portuguese startup company committed to inspiring players and fans through a variety of basketball courts, content and technology – to execute NBA Station court refurbishments.

Villa-Lobos State Park was the first of four NBA Station court refurbishments to take place this year.  Additional details regarding other locations and events will be announced at a later date.

The NBA also has an existing collaboration with Gerando Falcões – a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting underserved communities in Brazil – to refurbish basketball courts across the country and host Jr. NBA programming there on an ongoing basis.

For more information, fans can follow the NBA on Facebook (Facebook.com/NBABrasil), Instagram (@NBABrasil), Twitter (@NBABrasil), TikTok (@NBA_Brasil) and YouTube (@NBABrasil), as well as on the NBA App.

About the NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.  Built around five professional sports leagues:  the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories in more than 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2022-23 season featured 120 international players from 41 countries.  NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 2.1 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms.  Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.

About NBA Cares
NBA Cares is the league’s global social responsibility program that builds on the NBA’s mission of addressing important social issues.  NBA Cares programs and participants have provided more than 6.2 million hours of hands-on service and created more than 2,192 places where kids and families can live, learn or play in communities around the world.  Internationally, NBA Cares has created more than 453 places where kids and families can live, learn or play in 40 countries and territories.  NBA Cares works with nationally and internationally recognized youth-serving programs that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes, including: Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Vera Institute of Justice, Thurgood Marshall College Fund, UNICEF, Special Olympics, The Jed Foundation, Share Our Strength and GLSEN.