NEW YORK – The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced the return of Centro éne•bé•a as part of 2013 NBA All-Star in Houston. Centro éne•bé•a will provide Hispanic NBA fans with a variety of All-Star activities and events at NBA All-Star Jam Session from Feb. 13-17 at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

Current NBA players Carlos Delfino (Houston Rockets), Iman Shumpert (New York Knicks), and Brook Lopez (Brooklyn Nets) will take part in the Latin-inspired interactive area, which will operate in both English and Spanish. Activities will include one-on-one challenges against NBA players, healthy lifestyle cooking demonstrations by Celebrity Chef Aquiles Chávez, appearances by Hispanic celebrities, photograph opportunities, autograph sessions, and Latin entertainment.  Univision’s top sports show República Deportiva will also be broadcasting live on Sunday, Feb. 17 directly from Centro éne•bé•a.

“Centro éne•bé•a is part of the league’s continued efforts to grow the game of basketball throughout U.S. Hispanic communities,” said NBA Vice-president of U.S. Hispanic Marketing Saskia Sorrosa. “From basketball clinics and healthy cooking demonstrations to NBA Cares events, the league is once again offering NBA All-Star activities that are inclusive, drive overall participation and generate excitement about our sport.”

The league’s Hispanic efforts will be visible throughout the week at various All-Star activities, including Saturday’s NBA Hoop Troop event, the NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service’s playground built in partnership with KaBOOM! and the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation and the BBVA Compass Team. Works. In Schools. events taking place at two elementary schools in Hispanic communities. The NBA will also host Club éne•bé•a presented by Bacardi® on Friday, Feb. 15. Club éne•bé•a, a VIP Latin-theme party, will include live performances by Latin Grammy® Award-winning recording artist Daddy Yankee, music by the Miami Heat’s DJ Irie, and appearances by NBA players and Hispanic celebrities. The NBA All-Star Game will feature U.S.-born Hispanics Carmelo Anthony (Puerto Rico) and Brook Lopez (Cuba).

Highlights of NBA All-Star events will be available for Spanish-speaking TV viewers via the league’s Spanish-language broadcast partner, ESPN Deportes.  Fans can also check on the action at Centro éne•bé•a and find coverage of the rest of the NBA All-Star 2013 activities at www.enebea.com

KEY ACTIVITY SCHEDULE FOR CENTRO ENE-BE-A:

• Friday, Feb. 15: Carlos Delfino @  5:00PM – 6:00PM
• Saturday, Feb. 16: Brook Lopez @ 1:00PM – 2:00PM
• Sunday, Feb. 17: Iman Shumpert @ 11:30AM-12:00PM

— www.enebea.com —

About éne•bé•a

éne•bé•a (eh-nay-bay-ah) is part of a comprehensive initiative to grow the game of basketball throughout the expanding U.S. Hispanic market.  The NBA brings initiatives focused exclusively on Hispanic fans under a platform that includes media, events, grassroots, and merchandising programs. Sixteen percent of the NBA’s total fanbase is Hispanic.  Six U.S.- born Latino players and 19 players from Spain and Latin America are on 2012-13 season rosters. The NBA has played 27 preseason games and one regular-season game in Latin America.