NEW YORK – The National Basketball Association (NBA), International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Russian Basketball Federation will host Basketball without Borders (BWB) Europe in Russia for the first time.  Taking place in Moscow from Sept. 13 – 16, the camp will be led by Russian NBA players Minnesota Timberwolves’ Andrei Kirilenko and Alexey Shved, and the Denver Nuggets’ Timofey Mozgov.  BWB is the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development program that uses the sport to create positive social change in the areas of education and health and wellness.

BWB Europe will feature current and former NBA players, former FIBA players and NBA team personnel as camp coaches for up to 50 of the most talented young basketball players from more than 25 European countries.  NBA players and coaches will also take part in community outreach activities as part of NBA Cares, the league’s global social responsibility program.

Along with the three NBA players who helped Russia capture the bronze medal in men’s basketball at the 2012 Summer Olympics, additional camp participants will include NBA players MarShon Brooks (Brooklyn Nets), Danny Green (San Antonio Spurs) and Brian Cardinal, NBA Legend Sarunas Marciulonis, and former NBA player Alexander Volkov (Atlanta Hawks).  Russian basketball legends will also be on hand to assist the NBA/FIBA coaches and players, including Dmitri Domani and Sergei Panov (both formerly of CSKA Moscow), and Soviet Union Olympic gold medalists Sergei Tarakanov and Valeri Tikhonenko.

“Russia has a strong and growing affinity for the game of basketball and we are excited to bring Basketball without Borders here for the very first time,” said NBA Europe Vice President Dan Markham.  “We look forward to working with our colleagues at FIBA and the Russian Basketball Federation to further develop the game across the country and help showcase the positive effect it can have among youth both on and off the court.”

“I am delighted to see that Basketball without Borders will be making its first visit to Russia this year,” said Patrick Baumann, Secretary General of FIBA and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). “BWB gives young people from all over the world the opportunity and tools to improve and showcase their basketball skills by learning from the best players and coaches around. Over the course of eleven years, the NBA and FIBA have also enabled these young athletes to become positive role models in their communities.”

Since its inception in 2001, 30 BWB camps have been staged in 17 cities in 15 countries. Nearly 140 current and former NBA/WNBA players have joined with more than 100 NBA coaches and NBA team personnel as camp coaches and mentors for more than 1,500 different campers from just over 100 countries.  To date, 21 BWB campers have been drafted into the NBA.

Nike, a BWB global partner since 2002, will again outfit the campers and coaches of all three camps with Nike apparel and footwear.

“Basketball without Borders not only provides top level basketball instruction, but also teaches characteristics that are key to success in life, such as hard work, dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship,” said Lynn Merritt, Vice President, Global Basketball Sports Marketing, Nike. “We are proud to continue to work with the NBA and FIBA who share our commitment to developing talent around the world.”