NEW YORK AND MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA – The National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Colombian Basketball Association (Federación Colombiana de Baloncesto) today announced that the 10^th edition of Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Americas will be held Monday, June 24 – Thursday, June 27 at Ivan de Bedout Coliseo in Medellin, Colombia, marking the first time that the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program will be held in Colombia.

BWB Americas 2019 will bring together more than 60 of the top high-school age boys and girls from North and South America to learn directly from NBA and FIBA players and coaches, and to compete against the best young players from the region.  BWB Americas 2019 will also include NBA Cares and Jr. NBA community outreach efforts with youth in Medellin in partnership with local community organizations.

NIKE, a global partner of BWB since 2002, will outfit the campers and coaches with NIKE apparel and footwear.

The NBA and FIBA have staged 57 BWB camps in 36 cities in 28 countries on six continents.  BWB has hosted more than 3,400 participants from 129 countries and territories.  More than 290 current and former NBA and WNBA players have joined more than 230 NBA team personnel from all 30 NBA teams, with 60 former BWB campers drafted into the NBA or signed as free agents.  Among the 108 international players on opening-night NBA rosters for the 2018-19 season were a record 27 former BWB campers, including Deandre Ayton (Phoenix Suns; Bahamas; BWB Global 2016), Kelly Olynyk (Miami Heat; Canada; BWB Americas 2009), and Bruno Caboclo (Memphis Grizzlies; Brazil; BWB Americas 2013).

BWB Americas 2019 campers and coaches will be announced prior to the camp.  Follow BWB Americas 2019 using the hashtag #BWBAmericas on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Executive Quotes

NBA Managing Director Latin America, Arnon de Mello: “Bringing Basketball Without Borders to new locations is part of our continued commitment to growing the game of basketball around the world.  In partnership with FIBA and the Colombian Basketball Federation, we’re excited to host North and South America’s top male and female prospects in Colombia and give back to the local community.”

FIBA National Federations & Sport Director, Zoran Radovic: “We’re excited to team up with the NBA in bringing Basketball Without Borders to Colombia.  The country hosted the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 1982 and nowadays is one of our targeted territories where we are making a concerted effort of developing and growing the game of basketball.  Hosting this edition of BWB Americas will go a long way towards helping Colombian basketball take the necessary steps in making a return to the world stage.”

Colombian Basketball Federation President, Jorge Armando Garcia: “Colombia welcomes the NBA and the future of basketball in the Americas.  We are thrilled to host this grand event that will spotlight basketball in Colombia.”

Mayor of Medellin, Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga: “Medellin continues to be internationally-recognized as an epicenter of important world-class events.  We are proud to be hosting the NBA and FIBA’s Basketball Without Borders camp, and we look forward to welcoming current and former NBA and FIBA players, legends and coaches as well as the region’s top prospects.  This camp will build on Medellin’s proud history of bringing young people together through sport and helping them achieve their dreams.”