Back in the day when Derrick Coleman was in high school, word of mouth on the streets of Detroit would spread the news that George Gervin was coming to town to play at the tiny little gym on Livernois Avenue and Stearns Street known as ”The Saint” – aka St. Cecilia.
Sam Washington, the gym’s caretaker back in those days, doubled the price of admission from $1 to $2 when the “Iceman” was coming to town.
Washington was the gatekeeper at the 300-seat gym where high school, college and pro basketball players gathered every summer for pickup games in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s, and players from the state of Michigan feel it should have the same exposure as the Drew League in Los Angeles or the Rucker League in New York.
“The whole reason I wore No. 44 throughout my career was because of what George Gervin meant to me. The first time I met him I was a junior in high school and there were whispers going around that he was up in the stands, and I went up and introduced myself, and he took the time to mentor me.”
Coleman is holding an event in Dearborn, Michigan the week after the All-Star game to honor Gervin and Washington, but that is not the main purpose of the event. The Detroit chapter of the Retired Players Association is trying to raise $20 million for a full makeover of the Saint Cecilia gym, which has been more or less shuttered for the past 4-5 years.
“I used to take the bus down there for a quarter at 8 in the morning, eat lunch at Burger King, play ball all day and not leave until 9 o’clock at night,” said Earl Cureton, who played in the NBA, in Italy, in Puerto Rico, Argentina, Venezuela and Mexico before returning to Michigan, where he is now a team ambassador for the Pistons and also calls University of Detroit games as a broadcaster. “Kids these days do not have a safe place like that where they can be surrounded by role models, and we want to bring that back. It kept you around the right mentors and the right people.
Cureton, former Mayor Dave Bing and Coleman are heading a group that is trying to raise $20 million for a full reconstruction of the iconic gym where generations of the best players from Michigan gathered every summer. Cureton remembers Spencer Haywood being especially excited to be driving up in a brand new Cadillac after he made it to the NBA and he got his first big contract.
Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Rudy Tomjanovich, Voshon Lenard, Walker D, Russell, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Campy Russell, Dave DeBusschere, Tom LaGarde, Roy Tarpley, Mo Taylor, Voshon Lenard, John Long – they all played at St. Cecilia – Known in The D as “The Saint,” during the summers. Like many old Catholic school gyms, it was small with a stage at one end covered with padding and had a largely unused stage at the other end. The ceiling was low, and longer shots would scrape the paint above the court.
This is how they envision the rebuild looking:
Cureton remembers showing up with Darryl Dawkins, and when they got to the door where Mr. Washington was controlling the show, Dawkins was told that he would not be allowed to play because there were not any spare backboards.
Coleman and the Detroit chapter of the NBRPA are holding that dinner to honor Gervin, but the bigger goal is to raise roughly $20 million for a full renovation of the building, removing the low ceiling, allowing skylight to flow through new windows, installing bleachers, and building community fresh markets on one side of the building under the stands, and meeting spaces under the other side of the bleachers. The architectural firm Jeffrey A Scott L.C. from Farmington, Mich. has already put together a comprehensive 39-page rehabilitation plan, the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit is on board, and the goal is to get the project completed sooner rather than later so that young Detroit and Michigan ballers can have the same iconic hoops destination as their predecessors had.
Often nicknamed “The Mecca,” Saint Cecilia is the most famous gym in Detroit but has been mostly shuttered for the last 4-5 years. Coleman, Cureton and Bing, the former Mayor of Detroit and one of the NBRPA’s founders, are trying to change that.
“The most memorable thing I remember was watching Chris Webber as a high school junior grabbing a defensive rebound, taking it the length of the court and dunking on some unfortunate defender. I knew right then he would be a pro,” Bing said.
Coleman remembers Steve Smith, now on NBA-TV, perfecting his “Smitty” hesitation move. “You would go into that sweatbox – it was like 110 degrees in there in the summertime – and you would look at the layup line and see 10 to 15 NBA players on any given Saturday,” Coleman said. “Dave Bing brought guys from the Pistons in to play with high school kids.
“For me, could you imagine what it as like walking into a gym and seeing your idol, which is what happened with me and George Gervin? I am still I awe, and people need to recognize how many NBA players the state of Michigan has produced. A terrible job has been done telling that story,” Coleman said.
“When I won a championship with the Philadelphia 76ers, folks from Detroit still wanted to know if I was going to win the title at The Saint later that summer,” Cureton recalled. “Guys came from Flint, from Saginaw, from Pontiac, and Bernard King and a team of the best young New York players once made the trip. It was a place where young kids could talk to real NBA players in the parking lot.”
Earl Cureton, Dave Bing, Greg Kelser, Derrick Coleman and Grant Long Discuss St. Cecilia’s Gym.
The story of Saint Cecilia would make a great documentary if there as any footage of those games, but this was in the pre cell-phone age, and 8-millimeter and/or VCR or Betamax tapes of those games have never been located. What endures are the stories.
Coleman’s event on Feb. 23, 2024 at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich. will specifically honor Gervin and Washington, and interested parties (whether to attend or to donate) can contact sunni@nbrpdetroit.org.
If all goes well, a good time will be had by all.
If all goes much better than expected, a sizeable chunk of the $20 million will be raised with a lump sum donation from someone with a fat wallet, and the rebuild of Saint Cecilia goes from the drawing board to the construction phase on an expedited basis. If that happens, the most famous gym in Detroit is back up and running again in 2025 instead of 2027 or 2028.
Think about how many young lives that will impact in a positive way. Coleman, Cureton, Bing, Gervin, Washington and others want it, but they cannot do it alone. And anyone who has been keeping up with the ongoing efforts to revitalize Detroit understands that one of America’s historically great cities could use this boost sooner rather than later. Let’s see if someone special makes that happen.
NBA’s In Season Tournament, NBRPA’s Legends of Basketball Invitational, the WNBA’s Success and a Potential Las Vegas Based NBA Franchise Make This Desert Oasis Fertile Ground For NBRPA Members
LAS VEGAS – A’ja Wilson of the WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces did not know she had a tough act to follow, but she came in at the red-carpet entrance of the NBA Cup on Saturday night right after Flavor Flav had finished talking about how he once played against Moses Malone. And how he would like to play one-on-one against Atlanta Hawks superstar Trae Young.
Any NBA player who has reached the finals would recognize many of the trappings: All hands on deck for ESPN, which started bringing in hundreds of staff and crew members eight days earlier; red carpets and VIP’s, a press conference with commissioner Adam Silver, just like he does at the NBA Finals and the All-Star Game, a court lighting arrangement during the game, “championship” caps afterward and the honoring of NBA Legends Dr. J, Gary Payton, LaMarcus Aldridge, Shaquille O’Neal, Robert Horry and Carlos Boozer, who were cheered when they were shown on the videoboard throughout this historic weekend - that make it feel entirely different than any NBA game played in any December in years past.
This was quite an event put on by Silver, a game that did not count in the standings, but which awarded every player on the winning Los Angeles Lakers team a cool $500,000. (Yes, you are correct if you are thinking to yourself “I was born 20-30 years too soon”). As many have learned - not everyone leaves Vegas a winner - but the members of the losing team also took home $200,000 apiece, which is not the worst consolation prize in the world.
This is an event no retired NBA player – or anyone else, for that matter – had ever attended.
The stands were full Saturday night as the Lakers defeated the Indiana Pacers 123-109 to win the first In-Season Tournament, which Silver and the NBA pulled off quite nicely to an audience of viewers who knew something new and different was happening over the past couple of weeks but were not quite sure exactly what it was, or what the rules were. LeBron James and Anthony Davis taking it seriously and winning that NBA Cup brought an added level of legitimacy to a brand-new idea that was pulled off with very few hitches and further cemented Las Vegas as a basketball destination.
A week earlier, the NBRPA held the Legends of Basketball Las Vegas Invitational at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, where Washington faced off against Colorado State and USC battled Gonzaga in the nightcap. The common threads here - fantastic basketball being played and a formidable showing by NBRPA members. The LOB Invitational boasted participation from Jay Williams, Detlef Schrempf, Nick Young, Sam Perkins, CJ Watson and Dan Dickau and between the two events – there was no shortage of NBA history out and about in Las Vegas.
While “Sin City” has been home to the NBA’s Summer League for a while now, our membership’s growing presence here has not gone unnoticed. Over the past few years, members and the Legends brand have been somewhat of a staple in Las Vegas - having staged the annual Legends Summer Getaway, WNBA All-Star events, and the Legends of Basketball Las Vegas Invitational on the famed strip. Now, with a yearly event in the IST and the expected addition of an NBA franchise to compliment the WNBA’s back-to-back champion Las Vegas Aces – there is no doubt that the NBRPA’s impact will only increase in Las Vegas.
What every NBRPA member should realize is that in the years ahead, this is going to be a showcase that gives ex-players a chance to be in the spotlight if they need or want it, because when Silver goes all-in on an event in a gambling town – an event that was a gamble in and of itself – and comes out looking like a winner, his next move will most certainly be a double down.
The thing to remember about Saturday night, December 9, 2023 in Las Vegas was that this event was treated in a grandiose manner by ESPN/ABC and the league office. It is going to be a major NBA event in the years ahead. Whatever tournament tiebreaker rules are changed or tweaked will not matter to retired NBA players, but what should matter is this: The opportunity to shine a spotlight on something will be there, and the only trick to getting into that spotlight will be walking into the T-Mobile Arena using the same entrance, the one with the red carpet, that the WNBA champs and the rapper with the huge watch around his neck used.
Shaq, Horry, Boozer, and the other Legends that attended will all remember being there because the NBA made being in the building feel like it was being at a major event – even though it was a new event.
Whether it’s the second edition of the IST, played next December, or the NBRPA’s events - somebody out there who once played professional basketball may want to bring some attention to something. The best place to do that is now known.
NBRPA’s Acclaimed Health Screening Program Has Also Made Stops in Orlando and Los Angles and is Coming To Atlanta, Detroit, NBA All-Star in Indianapolis, NCAA Women’s Final Four in Cleveland and the NBRPA’s Annual Legends Summer Getaway in Las Vegas
HOUSTON, Texas, (Dec. 4, 2023) - The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) this past weekend brought its acclaimed Health Screening program for former players based in Houston, Texas. NBA/WNBA/ABA and Harlem Globetrotter Legends in the Houston and surrounding area took part in the NBRPA’s Health Screening program at the Houston Rockets’ Toyota Center on Sunday, December 3 and underwent wide-ranging screening procedures that included blood work, electrocardiograms, brain scan, echocardiograms and cardiology consultations.
The critically acclaimed program, under the supervision of the NBRPA's Chief Medical Director Joe Rogowski, focuses on player health, delivers thorough, cost-effective, healthcare to its membership and addresses many of the medical issues experienced by the NBRPA population, while also educating them on proactive measures that promote a healthy lifestyle.
“We are proud to showcase our Health Screening Program for our members living in and around Houston and are extremely thankful for the hospitality offered by the Houston Rockets in providing space at the Toyota Center” said Scott Rochelle, President & CEO, NBRPA. “This robust program – that has also made stops in Orlando and Los Angeles in the past month – presents an incredible occasion for us to bring this impactful program to where our members live and we look forward to continuing to bring this invaluable benefit to other markets across the United States, as well as to Indianapolis for the NBA All-Star weekend in February and to our annual Legends Summer Getaway in Las Vegas later this year.”
Launched in conjunction with the NBPA in 2016 to deliver valuable, preventive long-term healthcare check-ups to former professional players across the U.S., the Health Screening program has impacted hundreds of former players by providing preventative testing, including blood work, electrocardiograms, echocardiograms and cardiology consultations.
The NBRPA announced in 2022 that they would begin overseeing the program and brought along Joe Rogowski to head the operation. Rogowski, who served as the NBPA’s Chief Medical Officer for the past decade, was named the NBRPA’s Chief Medical Director in November 2022.
About the National Basketball Retired Players Association The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) is comprised of former professional basketball players from the NBA, ABA, and WNBA. It is a 501(c) 3 organization with a mission to develop, implement and advocate a wide array of programs to benefit its members, supporters and the community. The NBRPA was founded in 1992 by basketball legends Dave DeBusschere, Dave Bing, Archie Clark, Dave Cowens and Oscar Robertson. The NBRPA works in direct partnerships with the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association. Legends Care is the charitable initiative of the NBRPA that positively impacts youth and communities through basketball. Scott Rochelle is President and CEO, and the NBRPA Board of Directors includes Chairman of the Board Charles “Choo” Smith, Vice Chairman Shawn Marion, Treasurer Sam Perkins, Secretary Grant Hill, Johnny Davis, Nancy Lieberman, CJ Kupec, Mike Bantom, Caron Butler, Jerome Williams, Clarence “Chucky” Brown and Dave Bing. Learn more at legendsofbasketball.com.
NBRPA membership is comprised of a diverse group of former professional basketball players of the NBA, ABA, WNBA, and Harlem Globetrotters.
Each month, we'll spotlight one NBRPA member from each league to recognize their career on the court as well as the impact they are now having in their communities.
Rodney Rogers
NBA
Rodney Ray Rogers is an American former professional basketball player who played for several teams in the NBA.
Rogers was the fourth and youngest child born to Willie Wardsworth and Estella Rogers. Rogers attended Hillside High School in Durham. As an athlete, he was known as "the Durham Bull." He was a two-time Greensboro News & Record All-State selection, and was named the 1990 North Carolina state Player of the Year. As a junior, he averaged 22.5 points and 9.7 rebounds, and in his senior year he averaged 28.3 points and 12.3 rebounds on a team that finished 27-2 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the state 4-A playoffs. He was named McDonald's All-American and scored 17 points in the game.
From 1990 until 1993, Rogers played college basketball at Wake Forest University, where he won the 1990–1991 season Rookie of the Year honor and was the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year in 1993, averaging 21.2 points and 7.4 rebounds. His final college statistics were 19.3 points and 7.9 rebounds. Rogers's college jersey #54 was retired in February 1996 by the Demon Deacons.
Rogers was drafted with the 9th pick by the Denver Nuggets in the 1993 NBA draft and spent his rookie year coming off the bench for a team which was the first 8th-seeded team in NBA playoffs history to beat a first-seeded team, the Seattle SuperSonics. Rogers had one significant game in his rookie year, against the Utah Jazz on February 8, 1994. Near the end of the game, Rogers hit three 3-pointers in a span of nine seconds to bring the Nuggets from a 94–86 deficit to a 95–94 lead. However, Jeff Malone hit a jumper with 12 seconds remaining to give the Jazz the 96–95 win.
Right after being drafted by the Denver Nuggets, in the summer of 1993, Rogers married Tisa White. They had three children together, two girls (Roddreka and Rydeiah) and one son (Rodney Rogers II).
After Rogers was traded to the Phoenix Suns in 1999, the family made Paradise Valley, Arizona their home until 2006. Tisa returned to Durham to take over her father's family real estate business, in which Rogers was an investor. He returned to Durham in 2006 and went to work for the City of Durham as a heavy equipment operator. Rogers was promoted to supervisor in the spring of 2008. Most of his Public Works Department co-workers did not know he had been in the NBA until his dirt bike accident later that year.
Rogers is the cousin of former New England Patriots linebacker Tully Banta-Cain.
Rogers was a volunteer girls' basketball coach at Rogers-Herr Middle School, and he co-founded the Durham Eagles youth football team. He enjoyed hunting, riding motorcycles and ATVs, horseback riding and fishing. He is a NASCAR fan and loves big trucks and construction equipment.
On November 28, 2008, Rogers was involved in a dirt bike crash in rural Vance County north of Raleigh. Rogers hit a ditch while riding through a trail and flipped over his vehicle's handlebars. He was first flown to Duke University Medical Center, then on December 3 was moved by air ambulance to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia, which specializes in rehabilitating people with spinal cord and/or brain injuries. Rogers is paralyzed from the shoulders down as a result of the accident, and doctors have given him only a 5% chance of ever walking again.
Arvesta Kelly
ABA
On July 29, the Pittsburgh Pipers of the ABA announced the signing of their 11th player, or more correctly they made their 11th announcement of a player signing. Apparently, Kelly had been signed for several weeks, but legendary Pittsburgh Press sportswriter Roy McHugh let the cat out of the bag in a column the day before. He wrote that the 6-2 guard, a recent graduate of Lincoln University of Missouri, had been in town for weeks, and had already been competing in the Stanton Heights summer basketball league in Pittsburgh. He had been drafted by the St. Louis Hawks in the 8th round, 85th overall, of the NBA Draft, but chose the Pipers because, “he felt his chances were better in a new league.” He found out how rough street ball can be, especially when the opponents find out “you’re college or pro.” Arvesta said he felt like a “clay pigeon,” the standard treatment a target like that would receive in any street ball league in the country. Arvesta is still to this day, one of only two players from Lincoln to play in the NBA or the ABA.
Arvesta Kelly was drafted on May 2nd in the 8th round of the 1967 NBA Draft by the nearby St. Louis Hawks. Arvesta bypassed St. Louis and signed with the Pipers about a month after finishing his college track season which lasted until the end of May.
Arvesta held onto the No. 4 guard slot for the Pipers in 16 regular season games, played 9.1 MPG, and finished 3.9/2.1/0.8 and made three 3-pointers. His season high for points in a regular season game was 15 in a 135-118 win over Anaheim. He played in eight of the 15 playoff games which included two games in the Finals. He played 3.4 MPG and averaged 2.0 PPG. He scored seven points in the final game of the first round series win over the Indiana Pacers.
Arvesta currently lives in Des Moines, Iowa and is involved in serving at the Community Life Church. He also serves with a local youth organization teaching basketball fundamentals and mentoring youth.
Rushia Brown
WNBA
Rushia Brown was born in the Bronx, NY and raised in South Carolina. As a sophomore, she first picked up a ball and joined the Summerville High School Junior Varsity basketball team. Athletic, yet untrained, Rushia began a journey that would forever change her life.
Through hard work and dedication, she was one of the top student-athlete recruits in the state of South Carolina as a senior; being courted by esteemed universities such as Harvard, Duke University and her then dream school, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. However, after the loss of her father, Rushia chose to stay close to home and attend Furman University.
As a Lady Paladin, Rushia pursued her education and competed on the court, attaining every accolade available including Southern Conference Freshman of the Year, multiple MVPs, Southern Conference Player of the Year, Edna Hartness Athlete of the Year and eventually having her jersey hang from the rafters as #34 was retired, never to be worn again. Rushia’s collegiate years lead to a 10 year professional career overseas, which spanned 5 countries; Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Korea and 7 years in the WNBA; 6 years in Cleveland and 1 year in Charlotte.
When transitioning from the world of professional sports, Rushia decided that she would only pursue the passions that fed her spirit. She earned her Executive MBA from George Washington University to support her efforts.
Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to be a part of starting several companies, including the Women’s Professional Basketball Alumnae, the only organization to assist women who have played professionally in the WNBA or Internationally as they transition into mainstream society; ServCom, a nonprofit organization that strives to improve its communities by providing educational and enrichment activities for its citizens; Hearts & Hands Catering, a family business offering health food alternatives; and Young Black Entrepreneur Magazine, a quarterly publication that serves as an educational platform encouraging minorities to start their own businesses.
Brown has made her mark in various sectors of business and continues to travel the world inspiring others to use their gifts and talents to pursue their dreams. Rushia spent 5 years as a WNBA executive. Her 1st experience was working in the NBA/WNBA front office in New York as a member of the Crossover Program.
In 2018 Brown helped relocate the San Antonio Silver Stars to Las Vegas, where she served as the Player Programs & Franchise Development Manager for the Las Vegas Aces for 2 years. Brown then served as the Director of Community Relations and Youth Sports for the Los Angeles Sparks for 2 years. She also serves as a catalyst for change for those looking to take their lives and professions to the next level.
Rushia has recently been appointed to position on the advisory board for the WBL, where she's doing groundbreaking work to help revamp the Cleaveland Rockers organization, a team that she played on for 6 WNBA seasons.
Amongst her many accomplishments, what she is currently doing as the latest team member for Edyoucore, may be her most impactful as she travels the country promoting financial literacy amongst high school, college, and professional athletes.
Rushia is the proud mother of one daughter, Morgan MacKenzie Brown, and a proud member of the National Basketball Retired Players Association.
Respected tremendously amongst her peers within the NBRPA for past contributions to the Association, decades long dedication to women in, during, and after sports; in 2023 Rushia was voted onto the NBRPA's Board of Directors, where she now serves and represents membership with passion, and compassion at heart.
Dave Naves
Harlem Globetrotters
Dave Naves was born and raised on the south side of Chicago. He had always been enthusiastic about basketball, science, and technology. Making a living doing any of these would be a dream come true. That being his vision, he attended Lindblom Technical HS (a STEM school). His parents as well as teachers and coaches at Lindblom Tech were phenomenal and provided him with the guidance that would shape his future education and business endeavors. As a prep, Naves lettered twice on the hardwood for head coach Edward Bjankini at Chicago Lindblom. He led the team in scoring, plus made Chicago Public League All-Central Blue Division and Honorable Mention All-State in 1966-67. Mr. Naves was heavily recruited by some of the top colleges and universities in the country including the University of Iowa (Big 10), Vanderbilt University (SEC) and the University of Kansas (Big 8) and chose to stay close to home and play basketball at Division 1 Northern Illinois University.
A three-year Northern Illinois letter-winner (1967-71) for NIU Hall of Fame coach, Tom Jorgensen, Naves produced 577 points and 324 rebounds in 52 career appearances. Naves went 6-foot-6 and 183 pounds with a deft perimeter shooting touch for a big man. As a sophomore, he averaged 16.3 points per game and 9.7 rebounds.
In 1971, Naves had free agent tryouts with the American Basketball Association Indiana Pacers. The camp included George McGinnis, Darnel Hillman, and Randy Smith. Naves was also invited to try out for the Harlem Globetrotters. Of the 47 hopefuls, Naves was one of five that made the team. During the 1971-72 season Mr. Naves played for both the National and International Units. His National Unit teammates included Harlem Globetrotter legends Meadowlark Lemmon, Curly Neal, Bobby Joe Mason, Pablo Robertson, and Bobby Hunter. The International Unit teammates included Geese Ausby, Mel Davis, and Bobby “Showboat” Hall. The International Unit performed in Canada, Australia/Tasmania, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, Hawaii, and New Caledonia. Following the 1971-1972 tour, Mr. Naves was invited to the Dallas Chaparrals tryouts. After being cut, Mr. Naves opted not to return to Globetrotters and began a 47-year career in engineering.
Throughout his 47-year career, Mr. Naves has held engineering, management, or executive positions with Ford Motor Company/Body Engineering, CSX Rail, Jackson and Tull, Swales Aerospace, and SGT, Inc. Mr. Naves holds 4 patents for railcar designs. He was also the CEO and founder of EG&L Systems, Inc.
Mr. Naves is currently the Manager-Mission Systems Engineering, for Alutiiq/Alcyon Technical Services (ATS). ATS has a $200M contract to provide systems engineering (mission, spacecraft, science instrument, ground systems, and project management) services to support the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD. The GSFC focuses on space science that includes heliophysics, planetary science, earth science, and astrophysics programs and projects. In his 37 years providing engineering services at the GSFC, he has supported the Hubble Space Telescope mission; Landsat satellite missions in conjunction with the US Geological Survey; NOAA GOES weather satellite missions to predict changes in the earth’s climate, oceans, and coast as well as the affects of the Sun’s release of charged particles, Space Weather, has on the earth; the GSFC Tracking and Data Relay Satellite constellation’s spacecraft and ground communication system engineering; and most recently, the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory/GSFC Mars Sample Return (MSR) Mission-Capture, Containment, and Return System (CCRS) which is a mission to bring soil samples from Mars back to earth.
Mr. Naves has been an active member of the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) since 2011. He takes very seriously the mission of the NBRPA which is to assist former NBA, ABA, Harlem Globetrotters, and WNBA players in their transition from the playing court into life after the game. Mr. Naves served on the NBRPA Board of Directors for 6 years (2016-2021) representing the Harlem Globetrotters. According to Mr. Naves, “It was an honor and privilege to have served on the Board. I had the opportunity to work with other NBA, ABA, and WNBA Board members to make this organization the best it could be and be responsive to the needs of our members.” During his time on the Board, there was significant membership growth, expansion of programs to help members transition from playing to life after basketball, better transparency between the executive team and the members, increases in revenue, and better coordination with NBRPA Chapter’s. For two straight years, Mr. Naves received an invite from the Harlem Globetrotter Executive Management team to speak to players, during training camp, about planning for life after basketball.
Enthusiastic about giving back to the community, Mr. Naves has coached and given youth basketball clinics and is actively involved with his church. Mr. Naves has a fervent desire to encourage our youth to be the best they can be. He believes that with vision, passion, purpose, guidance, and planning, our youth can be successful in all their endeavors; be it academic, sports, business, or relationships. He really enjoys speaking to young people about careers in science, engineering, and technology. Mr. Naves obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Industry-Technology NIU. Mr. Naves is married and has 3 adult children and 2 grandchildren. He resides in Bowie, Maryland.
NBRPA’s Health Screening Program To Make Stops in Houston, Atlanta, Detroit, NBA All-Star in Indianapolis, NCAA Women’s Final Four in Cleveland and the NBRPA’s Annual Legends Summer Getaway and Golf Experience in Las Vegas
Previous Activations of the Program This Year Were Also Held in Orlando, Florida
LOS ANGELES, California, (Nov. 20, 2023) - The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA), this past weekend brought its acclaimed Health Screening program for former players based in Southern California. NBA/WNBA/ABA and Harlem Globetrotter Legends in the greater Los Angeles area took part in the NBRPA’s Health Screening program at the LA Clippers’ Training Center on Sunday, November 19 and underwent wide-ranging screening procedures, that included blood work, electrocardiograms, echocardiograms and cardiology consultations.
The critically acclaimed program, under the supervision of the NBRPA Chief Medical Director Joe Rogowski, focuses on player health, delivered thorough, cost-effective, healthcare to its membership and address many of the medical issues experienced by the NBRPA population, while also educating them on proactive measures that promote a healthy lifestyle.
“We are proud to showcase our Health Screening Program for our members living in and around Los Angeles and are extremely thankful for the hospitality offered by the LA Clippers in providing space at their training facility for this event” said Scott Rochelle, President & CEO, NBRPA. “This program presents an incredible occasion for us to bring this impactful program to where our members live and we look forward to continuing to bring this invaluable benefit to other markets across the United States, as well as to Indianapolis for the NBA All-Star weekend in February and to our annual Legends Summer Getaway in Las Vegas later this year.”
Launched in conjunction with the NBPA in 2016, to deliver valuable, preventive long-term healthcare check-ups to former professional players across the U.S., the Health Screening Program has impacted hundreds of former players by providing preventative testing, including blood work, electrocardiograms, echocardiograms and cardiology consultations.
The NBRPA announced in 2022 that they would begin overseeing the program and brought along Joe Rogowski to head the operation. Rogowski, who served as the NBPA’s Chief Medical Officer for the past decade, was named the NBRPA’s Chief Medical Director in November 2022.
About the National Basketball Retired Players Association The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) is comprised of former professional basketball players from the NBA, ABA, and WNBA. It is a 501(c) 3 organization with a mission to develop, implement and advocate a wide array of programs to benefit its members, supporters and the community. The NBRPA was founded in 1992 by basketball legends Dave DeBusschere, Dave Bing, Archie Clark, Dave Cowens and Oscar Robertson. The NBRPA works in direct partnerships with the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association. Legends Care is the charitable initiative of the NBRPA that positively impacts youth and communities through basketball. Scott Rochelle is President and CEO, and the NBRPA Board of Directors includes Chairman of the Board Charles “Choo” Smith, Vice Chairman Shawn Marion, Treasurer Sam Perkins, Secretary Grant Hill, Johnny Davis, Nancy Lieberman, CJ Kupec, Mike Bantom, Caron Butler, Jerome Williams, Clarence “Chucky” Brown and Dave Bing. Learn more at legendsofbasketball.com.
NBRPA’s Health Screening Program To Make Stops in Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta, Detroit, NBA All-Star in Indianapolis, NCAA Women’s Final Four in Cleveland and the NBRPA’s Annual Legends Summer Getaway in Las Vegas
ORLANDO, Florida, (Nov. 13, 2023) - The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA), this past weekend brought its acclaimed Health Screening program for former players based in Orlando, Florida. NBA/WNBA/ABA and Harlem Globetrotter Legends in the greater Orlando area took part in the NBRPA’s Health Screening program at the Orlando Magic’s Amway Center on Saturday, November 11 and underwent wide-ranging screening procedures, that included blood work, electrocardiograms, echocardiograms and cardiology consultations. In addition to taking part in the program, Legends were also treated to an evening of basketball entertainment when the Orlando Magic hosted the Milwaukee Bucks.
The critically acclaimed program, under the supervision of the NBRPA Chief Medical Director Joe Rogowski, focuses on player health, delivered thorough, cost-effective, healthcare to its membership and address many of the medical issues experienced by the NBRPA population, while also educating them on proactive measures that promote a healthy lifestyle.
“We are thrilled at the opportunity to showcase our Health Screening Program for our members in the Orlando area.” said Scott Rochelle, President & CEO, NBRPA. “This program presents an incredible occasion for us to bring this impactful program to where our members live and we look forward to continuing to bring this invaluable benefit to other markets across the United States, as well as to Indianapolis for the NBA All-Star weekend in February and to our annual Legends Summer Getaway in Las Vegas later this year.”
Launched in conjunction with the NBPA in 2016, to deliver valuable, preventive long-term healthcare check-ups to former professional players across the U.S., the Health Screening Program has impacted hundreds of former players by providing preventative testing, including blood work, electrocardiograms, echocardiograms and cardiology consultations.
The NBRPA announced in 2022 that they would begin overseeing the program and brought along Joe Rogowski to head the operation. Rogowski, who served as the NBPA’s Chief Medical Officer for the past decade, was named the NBRPA’s Chief Medical Director in November 2022.
About the National Basketball Retired Players Association The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) is comprised of former professional basketball players from the NBA, ABA, and WNBA. It is a 501(c) 3 organization with a mission to develop, implement and advocate a wide array of programs to benefit its members, supporters and the community. The NBRPA was founded in 1992 by basketball legends Dave DeBusschere, Dave Bing, Archie Clark, Dave Cowens and Oscar Robertson. The NBRPA works in direct partnerships with the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association. Legends Care is the charitable initiative of the NBRPA that positively impacts youth and communities through basketball. Scott Rochelle is President and CEO, and the NBRPA Board of Directors includes Chairman of the Board Charles “Choo” Smith, Vice Chairman Shawn Marion, Treasurer Sam Perkins, Secretary Grant Hill, Johnny Davis, Nancy Lieberman, CJ Kupec, Mike Bantom, Caron Butler, Jerome Williams, Clarence “Chucky” Brown and Dave Bing. Learn more at legendsofbasketball.com.
NBRPA membership is comprised of a diverse group of former professional basketball players of the NBA, ABA, WNBA, and Harlem Globetrotters.
Each month, we'll spotlight one NBRPA member from each league to recognize their career on the court as well as the impact they are now having in their communities.
Jamal Mashburn
NBA
Jamal Mashburn is most notably known for his success on the basketball court. The former college and NBA All Star spent over 20 years with the Kentucky Wildcats, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, and New Orleans Hornets, where he dribbled, dunked, and dazzled fans. Yet, before Mashburn ever set foot on the professional hardwood, he was already preparing for his life after basketball.
With a natural knack for teambuilding, Mashburn took his skills straight to the business world without missing a beat. Mashburn successfully assembled a team of savvy professionals specializing in administration, finance, project management, insurance, and advertising. This rock-star team quickly developed an ownership model that resulted in an impressive business portfolio. To date, Mashburn — the entrepreneur — has ownership interest in numerous restaurant franchises (38 Outback Steakhouse restaurants, 40 Papa John’s pizza restaurants, and three Dunkin Donuts stores), car dealerships (owner of Kentucky’s Toyota on Nicholasville and Lexus Store of Lexington), real estate, and the thoroughbred horse racing industry. In his spare time (and when not laser-focused on new investment opportunities) Mashburn even served as an ESPN on-air NBA analyst (2006-2010). Currently Mr. Mashburn is a Board Member of the ROI Acquisition Corporation and a Board Member of the FairBridge Hotels International.
Extremely civic-minded, Mashburn is committed to helping others and giving back to the community. In 1993, before he ever signed his first professional basketball contract, he donated $500,000 to establish and endow the Mashburn Scholarship Fund at the University of Kentucky. The scholarship identifies ninth grade students in the Lexington, Kentucky, area, tracks them through high school, and then awards them a full scholarship to attend the University of Kentucky or Bluegrass Community and Technical College in the event they achieve their academic and personal goals. He is also a founding member, officer, and director of The MAP Foundation (focused on youth mentoring) and Mashburn Family Foundation (offering programs and support for latch-key children and children of alcoholics and single mothers), both of which are non-profit 501(c)(3) corporations. In 20011 Mashburn held a seat on the Board of Directors for the National Forest Foundation and has served on the Advisory Board for Central Bank & Trust Company in Lexington, KY from 2005-2008. Mr. Mashburn also ensures that each of his businesses actively participate in their local communities by way of donations to various charitable organizations.
Mashburn has taken full advantage of the opportunities afforded to him and now encourages and inspires others to embrace his team-first attitude, helping them achieve success in business — and in life.
Mack Calvin
ABA
Mack Calvin is a Former ABA-NBA Five Time All-Star Player and Coach, and Future Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame. Mack Calvin is the living embodiment of making it against all odds!
His passion and commitment is to inspire young people and others how to remove the “Mental Handcuffs” from their lives to achieve greatness and dream big!!
Mack, was born in Fort Worth, Texas and raised on a small farm by his grandparents. His mother and three other siblings moved to Los Angeles, California (Watts) at the age of nine years old to join their father.
During Mack early years, while living in the projects of Watts, he developed his basketball skills playing for the Parks And Recreation Of Los Angeles. At the tender age of fifteen years old, his parents moved to Long Beach, California and Mack attended Long Beach Poly where his basketball skills really developed.
His varsity basketball team winning record was sixty seven wins and one loss. During his two years of competition in the State of California High School competition. During his Senior year, he was the team captain and led the team to a undefeated season with a record of 34-0.
For his efforts, he was voted to the all CIF team and named one of the top ten players in the State of California.
Mack Calvin received over one hundred scholarship offers and letters. Unfortunately, Mack was only reading at the seventh grade level and had a 1.7 GPA. In order to graduate, Ms. Johnson changed his grade in Arts and Crafts to a “C” in order for him to graduate along with his classmates.
Because, of his lack of commitment to studying and negative environment at home, Mack was forced to attend Long Beach City College.
It was at LBCC where Mack met his basketball coaches, Bill Barnes and Chuck Kane, who took an interest in him as a person and were concerned about him as a Student Athlete and made him focus in the classroom.
Mack Calvin graduated from LBCC with academic honors and chose the University of Southern California (USC) over fifty other colleges, including UCLA. Mack Graduated from USC majoring in Sociology.
Mack Calvin believes that all teens are troubled! It is part of the territory! Drugs, alcohol, violence, stress, depression, bullying, peer pressure and self doubt. This is the real world of drama of our young people today!
For over 40 years Mack Calvin has hosted his Free Mack Calvin Youth Educational Fundamental Summer Basketball Camp. His camp is for boys and girls 8 to 17 years old. His camp offers free Lunch (Served Daily), Fundamental Instruction, Life Skills, Free Throw Shooting Contests, and Scrimmages.
Today Mack Calvin is a motivational speaker and youth mentor. Mack Calvin shares with our youth and others that real motivation comes from within one’s self and self esteem! Believing that their is greatness inside us!
Mack Calvin leads students through the most powerful life principles they need to pursue their dreams and goals, and more to achieve greatness!
Mack shares his own unique story, no holds barred. He connects with their souls and shows the students how his own personal struggles can positively change their world and change their lives!
Nakia Sanford-Lawson
WNBA
Nakia Sanford-Lawson was born in Lithonia, Georgia, where she became well known in her area as an exceptional overall athlete. She was a double State champion in Georgia, winning state championships in track and field (high jump) and the AAAA championship in basketball.
Nakia's accomplishments caught the eye of many Division 1 college coaches, but she chose to attend the University of Kansas under Hall of Fame coach Marianne Washington. While at Kansas, Nakia developed into a nationally known athlete steadily guided under the mentorship of another great legend, Ms. Lynette Woodard.
Nakia would play professionally in 8 different countries and learn how to proficiently speak Italian and French along her journey.
Sanford would get her big break to play in the WNBA in 2003 for the Washington Mystics. Nakia would steadily progress in the League, becoming a fixture to the face of the Mystics where she played there from 2003-2010 before getting picked up by the Phoenix Mercury 2011-2012, and again for the Seattle Storm in 2013.
After Nakia finished playing sports, entrepreneurship called, and Sanford answered. For the past decade, Nakia Sanford-Lawson built an extremely successful financial services career. She became the Regional Vice-President with Prinerica Advisors. She's both a licensed financial advisor and a fiduciary.
Nakia holds a series 6, 63, 26, and 65. She's built her business and her legacy, helping athletes and executives design post career lifestyles that they deserve. Within corporate America, she's been branded as "The tall money lady" for all of her outstanding and impressive work.
Nakia Sanford-Lawson is a proud member of the NBRPA, regularly attending and supporting our Associations conferences and events.
Reggie Dixon
Harlem Globetrotters
Reggie “Air Man” Dixon, a former member of the world-renowned Harlem Globetrotters dreamed of one day becoming a professional basketball player. After graduating from Jack Yates High School (Houston, Texas) in 1983 Reggie began a wonderful educational adventure at Niagara University in Niagara Falls, New York. Reggie fulfilled his dream of playing professional basketball for 11 years with The Harlem Globetrotters. He was the Head Coach for his remaining two years and he was honored to make a little history as the youngest head coach in Globetrotter History. Mr. Dixon has traveled extensively around the globe. With more than 75 countries under his belt, he has sipped tea with Mother Teresa and the late Princess Diana. He has spoken on the same program with Colin Powell, shook Pope John Paul’s hand and celebrated Nelson Mandela’s 78th and 79th birthday’s respectively in Cape Town South Africa.
Mr. Dixon has received a numerous number of awards including the NAACP/Urban Scholarship Program Award, Centuries of Triumph Award and Jack Yates 2021 Hall of Fame Inductee just to name a few. He is a member of the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBA, WNBA, ABA & Harlem Globetrotters), he composed the team that purchased the Houston Comets and he has been recognized at the Texas State Capital by State Representative Garnet Coleman. He is a regular participant for Congress woman Shelia Jackson-Lee’s Christmas for Youth, Former Mayor Lee Brown’s Help Keep Houston Clean and Former Councilman Gordan Quan’s Christmas Celebration for the Senior Citizens. As a result of Reggie’s tireless efforts and excellent work in the community, in October 2003, The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) honored Reggie with the Prestigious Directors Community Leadership Award. Reggie was the very first Harlem Globetrotter to receive the Legacy Loyalty and Pride Award and he was a participant of the Harlem Globetrotters induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Reggie founded the Reggie “Air Man” Foundation for youth, established in 2013. His Foundation focuses on the social changes of the under privileged children and how to work and live to reduce any child’s behavior problem and improve on their social skills as an individual and/or with their families. As part of his Foundation outreach he has visited more than 1000 schools, spoke to more than one million students and participated in more than 1000 interviews.
Exclusive Multi-Year Partnership Names NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Healththe Preferred Healthcare Provider for NBRPA Members
CHICAGO, Illinois, (October 19, 2023) - The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) and NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health (NS-EEH) today announced a multi-year agreement making NS-EEH the exclusive healthcare partner of the NBRPA.
Under the newly announced agreement, NS-EEH will serve as the preferred hospitals and healthcare provider and offer their nationally recognized levels of healthcare to the NBRPA’s more than 1,800 members and their families. NS-EEH will also co-sponsor health events and health fairs, and will provide support to NBRPA members seeking physical, mental, and emotional healthcare services. Additionally, NS-EEH will partner with the NBRPA on Diversity, Equality, and Inclusive (DEI) initiatives and provide services to bolster the NBRPA’s DEI projects, with a focus on underserved communities within the local Chicago area.
“To be able to partner with a renowned medical establishment as NorthShore—Edward-Elmhurst Health thrills us and helps us in continuing to provide our members with access to top-of-the-line medical services and care,” said Scott Rochelle, President & CEO, NBRPA. “This exclusive partnership continues our aim of fostering a culture of positive physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing for members during and after their transition from professional basketball and in our efforts to give back to our community.”
“An exclusive medical partnership of this magnitude is unprecedented in our space. NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health, in their commitment to our former players, has demonstrated a strong belief in making our players’ health and wellness a priority,” said Joe Rogowski, Chief Medical Director, NBRPA. “This partnership, that provides access to NorthShore—Edward-Elmhurst Health’s robust medical services is a great first step in the NBRPA’s continued efforts to build an unparalleled sports medicine network.”
“Our goal is to act as a medical care advisor to help NBRPA members gain access to the experts they need for their health issues in a wide variety of specialties -- very similar to how they received access to experts when they were on a pro team,” said Ravi Bashyal, M.D., Vice-Chairman of Patient and Provider Experience & Director of Outpatient Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery at NorthShore University HealthSystem, and Co-Medical Director and Head NBRPA Hip & Knee Replacement Consultant.
“Our entire team of NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst physicians looks forward to helping NBRPA members achieve their best health with expert, advanced, personalized care, no matter where they are in their life journey,” said Dr. Asheesh Bedi, MD. Director of Comprehensive Sports Medicine and Joint Preservation at NorthShore Orthopaedic & Spine Institute and Co-Medical Director and Head NBRPA Sports Medicine Surgery Consultant.
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About the National Basketball Retired Players Association The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) is comprised of former professional basketball players from the NBA, ABA, and WNBA. It is a 501(c) 3 organization with a mission to develop, implement and advocate a wide array of programs to benefit its members, supporters and the community. The NBRPA was founded in 1992 by basketball legends Dave DeBusschere, Dave Bing, Archie Clark, Dave Cowens and Oscar Robertson. The NBRPA works in direct partnerships with the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association. Legends Care is the charitable initiative of the NBRPA that positively impacts youth and communities through basketball. Scott Rochelle is President and CEO, and the NBRPA Board of Directors includes Chairman of the Board Charles “Choo” Smith, Vice Chairman Shawn Marion, Treasurer Sam Perkins, Secretary Grant Hill, Johnny Davis, Nancy Lieberman, CJ Kupec, Mike Bantom, Caron Butler, Jerome Williams, Clarence “Chucky” Brown and Dave Bing. Learn more at legendsofbasketball.com.
About NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system committed to providing access to quality, vibrant, community-connected care, serving an area of more than 4.2 million residents across six northeast Illinois counties. Our more than 27,000 team members and more than 7,000 physicians aim to deliver transformative patient experiences and expert care close to home across more than 300 ambulatory locations and eight acute care hospitals – Edward (Naperville), Elmhurst, Evanston, Glenbrook (Glenview), Highland Park, Northwest Community (Arlington Heights), Skokie and Swedish (Chicago) – all recognized as Magnet hospitals for nursing excellence. Located in Naperville, Linden Oaks Behavioral Health, provides for the mental health needs of area residents. For more information, visit NorthShore.org, SwedishCovenant.org, NCH.org and EEHealth.org.
NorthShore Orthopaedic and Spine Institute is the only dedicated hospital of its kind in Illinois and ranks among the top 50 orthopaedic programs in the country (US News & World Report, 2023-2024). NorthShore also ranks No. 1 in Illinois for joint replacement surgeries and overall orthopedic care (IHA Compdata, 2022). For more information about the NorthShore Orthopaedic & Spine Institute, visit NorthShore.org/orthopaedics or call 847.866-7846.
For Third Consecutive Year, Five Undergraduates Attending HBCUs Will Receive $10,000 Scholarships
Chicago, ILL. October 4, 2023 - The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) today announced the 2023-2024 recipients of the Legends HBCU Scholarship, making them the third class of Legends Scholars.
The five Legends Scholars are:
Mimi Harris | Albany State University, Class of 2026
Vanessa Johnson | Edward Waters College, Class of 2024
Maya Brunt | University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, Class of 2024
Michael Clark | Howard University, Class of 2024
Azaria Howard | Tennessee State University, Class of 2025
“These five exceptional students were selected from hundreds of HBCU student applicants due to their commitment to academic excellence and their positive impact in the world,” said Scott Rochelle, NBRPA President & CEO. “We are excited to introduce the 2023-24 Legends Scholars – our third class overall - and welcome them into our Legends family, where we will support them during their collegiate career and beyond.”
The five Legends Scholars will receive a $10,000 academic scholarship from the NBRPA for the 2023-2024 school year. In addition to addressing the financial needs of Legends Scholars, a comprehensive scholars program will assist Legends Scholars in the areas of career preparation and development, job placement and mentoring both during and after their undergraduate years.
The Legends HBCU Scholarship and Legends Scholars program were created in 2020 under the NBRPA’s Legends Care initiative as a way to honor the rich history of HBCUs and their alums while moving the legacy forward by supporting current HBCU undergraduates.
To learn more about the Legends HBCU Scholarship and Legends Scholars program, visit legendsofbasketball.com/HBCU.
About the National Basketball Retired Players Association The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) is comprised of former professional basketball players from the NBA, ABA, and WNBA. It is a 501(c) 3 organization with a mission to develop, implement and advocate a wide array of programs to benefit its members, supporters and the community. The NBRPA was founded in 1992 by basketball legends Dave DeBusschere, Dave Bing, Archie Clark, Dave Cowens and Oscar Robertson. The NBRPA works in direct partnerships with the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association. Legends Care is the charitable initiative of the NBRPA that positively impacts youth and communities through basketball. Scott Rochelle is President and CEO, and the NBRPA Board of Directors includes Chairman of the Board Charles “Choo” Smith, Vice Chairman Shawn Marion, Treasurer Sam Perkins, Secretary Grant Hill, Johnny Davis, Nancy Lieberman, CJ Kupec, Mike Bantom, Caron Butler, Jerome Williams, Clarence “Chucky” Brown and Dave Bing. Learn more at legendsofbasketball.com.
Event to feature a trio of Ohio programs – Ohio State, Akron and Ohio – facing West Virginia, St. Bonaventure and Davidson, respectively
CLEVELAND, Ohio (September 28, 2023) – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland will serve as the host venue for the Dec. 30 Legends of Basketball Showcase, a college basketball tripleheader headlined by the previously announced contest between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the West Virginia Mountaineers.
Two more games will make up the Dec. 30 schedule, leading off with the Ohio Bobcats facing the Davidson Wildcats, followed by the Akron Zips taking on the St. Bonaventure Bonnies. The Buckeyes and Mountaineers will tip off in primetime. Game times will be announced in the coming days.
The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) is the title sponsor of the event. Founded in 1992, The NBRPA serves former professional basketball players in their transition into life after basketball and is the only alumni association of its kind supported directly by the NBA and National Basketball Players Association. Intersport, a Chicago-based sports marketing and events agency, is the operator of the Legends of Basketball Showcase.
Tickets for the event will go on sale on Oct. 12 at www.rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com, but fans interested in attending the tripleheader can register to receive event information and gain access to early tickets through a one-day presale on Oct. 11 by signing up at www.LegendsofBasketball.com/Showcase. Through the link, fans can also purchase VIP hospitality tickets through the NBRPA for the opportunity to meet former NBA and WNBA stars.
“Following the tremendous success of our inaugural Legends of Basketball Showcase last year in Chicago, we are proud to once again be a huge part of the college basketball calendar and bring the event to Cleveland,” said Scott Rochelle, President & CEO of the NBRPA. “With six elite basketball programs being featured and the games being staged at a top-of-the-line venue in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, we are sure this will be a can’t miss event for every basketball fan. We look forward to what promises to be an incredible afternoon and evening of hoops action.”
“We’re excited to work together once again with the NBRPA to stage the second edition of the Legends of Basketball Showcase, especially with the lineup of programs that will be participating this year,” said Mark Starsiak, vice president of basketball at Intersport. “This year’s tripleheader features very competitive regional programs with passionate fan followings, which will create an entertaining atmosphere at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.”
Ohio State and West Virginia have faced each other 17 times previously, with the Buckeyes holding a 9-8 edge in the series. The Mountaineers, however, have dominated recent history, winning eight of the last nine meetings, including each of the last three. The teams last met in 2019, with West Virginia earning a 67-59 victory at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in 2019.
This will be the fourth all-time meeting between Akron and St. Bonaventure, with the Zips carrying a 2-1 edge in the series. The teams have split the last two meetings, with Akron winning a 2018 tilt and St. Bonaventure claiming a 2020 victory. The first meeting between the teams was back in 1942.
Ohio and Davidson have met three times previously, with the Wildcats having won each matchup. Davidson has won a pair of home games as well as a neutral site contest in 2006 in Tempe, Ariz.
The Legends of Basketball Showcase is one of many events that is part of Intersport’s early season college basketball calendar, which has seen considerable growth in the last five years. After initially launching a four-team event in Fort Myers in 2018, the Chicago-based agency has announced plans to host at least eight different events during the first eight weeks of the 2023-24 season, with an additional announcement to come in the ensuing days. The current Intersport early season calendar includes:
Nov. 10: Radford vs Marshall (The Greenbrier Resort, White Sulphur Springs, W. Va.)
Nov. 20-22: Fort Myers Tip-Off (Suncoast Credit Union Arena, Fort Myers, Fla.)
Nov. 23-25: Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off (Suncoast Credit Union Arena, Fort Myers, Fla.)
Dec. 2: Legends of Basketball Las Vegas Invitational; Gonzaga vs. USC, Washington vs. Colorado State (MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nev.)
Dec. 14: Florida Tip-Off; Florida vs. East Carolina (RP Funding Center, Lakeland, Fla.)
Dec. 16: CBS Sports Classic; Ohio State vs. UCLA, North Carolina vs. Kentucky (State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Ga.)
Dec. 30: Legends of Basketball Showcase: Ohio State vs. West Virginia; Ohio vs. Davidson; Akron vs. St. Bonaventure (Cleveland, Ohio)
Team Quick Facts
Ohio State Buckeyes
Conference: Big Ten
Head Coach: Chris Holtmann
2022-23 record (conference): 16-19 (5-15)
2023 Conference Tournament: Semifinals
All-Time NCAA Tournament Appearances: 35
Top Returning Scorer: Zed Key (10.8 ppg)
West Virginia Mountaineers
Conference: Big 12
Head Coach: Josh Eilert
2022-23 record (conference): 19-15 (7-11)
2023 Conference Tournament: Quarterfinals
All-Time NCAA Tournament Appearances: 31
Top Returning Scorer: Seth Wilson (4.2 ppg)
Akron Zips
Conference: MAC
Head Coach: John Groce
2022-23 record (conference): 22-11 (13-5)
2023 Conference Tournament: Quarterfinals
All-Time NCAA Tournament Appearances: 5
Top Returning Scorer: Seth Wilson (4.2 ppg)
St. Bonaventure Bonnies
Conference: A-10
Head Coach: Mark Schmidt
2022-23 record (conference): 14-18 (8-10)
2023 Conference Tournament: Second Round
All-Time NCAA Tournament Appearances: 8
Top Returning Scorer: Daryl Banks III (15.4 ppg)
Ohio Bobcats
Conference: MAC
Head Coach: Jeff Boals
2022-23 record (conference): 19-14 (10-8)
2023 Conference Tournament: Semifinals
All-Time NCAA Tournament Appearances: 14
Top Returning Scorer: Jaylin Hunter (13.2 ppg)
Davidson Wildcats
Conference: A-10
Head Coach: Matt McKillop
2022-23 record (conference): 16-16 (8-10)
2023 Conference Tournament: Quarterfinals
All-Time NCAA Tournament Appearances: 15
Top Returning Scorer: Grant Huffman (9.4 ppg)
About Intersport
Since 1985, Intersport has been an award-winning innovator and leader in the creation of sports, lifestyle, culinary and entertainment-based marketing platforms. With expertise in Sponsorship Consulting, Experiential Marketing, Hospitality, Customer Engagement, Content Marketing, Productions and Sports Properties, this Chicago-based Marketing & Media Solutions Company helps their clients to create ideas, content and experiences that attract and engage passionate audiences. To learn more about Intersport, visit www.intersport.global, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
About the National Basketball Retired Players Association The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) is comprised of former professional basketball players from the NBA, ABA, and WNBA. It is a 501(c) 3 organization with a mission to develop, implement and advocate a wide array of programs to benefit its members, supporters and the community. The NBRPA was founded in 1992 by basketball legends Dave DeBusschere, Dave Bing, Archie Clark, Dave Cowens and Oscar Robertson. The NBRPA works in direct partnerships with the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association. Legends Care is the charitable initiative of the NBRPA that positively impacts youth and communities through basketball. Scott Rochelle is President and CEO, and the NBRPA Board of Directors includes Chairman of the Board Charles “Choo” Smith, Vice Chairman Shawn Marion, Treasurer Sam Perkins, Secretary Grant Hill, Nancy Lieberman, CJ Kupec, Mike Bantom, Caron Butler, Jerome Williams, Clarence “Chucky” Brown and Dave Bing. Learn more at legendsofbasketball.com.
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is Northeast Ohio’s premier sports and entertainment facility. Home of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Monsters and the annual Mid-American Conference (MAC) Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament, the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse also hosts major attractions, top-tier concert tours, family shows and signature events to the greater Cleveland area. Each year, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse hosts more than 200 diverse ticketed events and 1,400 private events that draw more than 2 million patrons to downtown Cleveland.
Preseason No. 7 Gonzaga will face No. 21 USC as part of Dec. 2 doubleheader that also features Washington-Colorado State in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS (September 26, 2023) – A west coast showdown between preseason top-25 programs Gonzaga and USC headlines the Legends of Basketball Las Vegas Invitational, a college basketball doubleheader set for Dec. 2 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Washington and Colorado State will open the Saturday night doubleheader at 7 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network and will be followed by the Bulldogs and Trojans at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) is the title sponsor of the event. Founded in 1992, The NBRPA serves former professional basketball players in their transition into life after basketball and is the only alumni association of its kind supported directly by the NBA and National Basketball Players Association. Intersport, a Chicago-based sports marketing and events agency, is the operator of the Legends of Basketball Las Vegas Invitational.
Tickets for the event will go on sale on October 13 at www.axs.com, but fans interested in attending the doubleheader can register to receive event information and gain access to early tickets through a one-day presale on October 12 by signing up at www.legendsofbasketball.com/vegas. Through the link, fans can also purchase VIP hospitality tickets to pregame and postgame events through the NBRPA for the opportunity to meet former NBA and WNBA stars.
“The NBRPA is thrilled to build on and expand our partnership with Intersport to present the Legends of Basketball Las Vegas Invitational,” said Scott Rochelle, President & CEO NBRPA. “The combination of deep NBRPA ties to the participating college basketball programs, a tremendous location in Las Vegas and a world-class venue in the MGM Grand Garden Arena, promises to make this event a must-watch for all college hoops fans. We look forward to showcasing the action and fanfare that these four renowned basketball programs are sure to bring.”
“Las Vegas is known for major, must-see events and this doubleheader fits that bill,” said Mark Starsiak, vice president of basketball at Intersport. “With four dynamic programs on the court and an engaged partner in the NBRPA, the Legends of Basketball Las Vegas Invitational will offer an incredible experience for fans. Both Gonzaga and USC are among the favorites to win their respective leagues and have extremely talented rosters that position them for dangerous runs through the NCAA Tournament, while Colorado State and Washington each have the ingredients to push for postseason berths as well.”
This will be the fourth all-time meeting between USC and Gonzaga with the Trojans owning a 2-1 mark in the series. The Bulldogs won the most recent meeting, an Elite Eight showdown in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Washington and Colorado State have also played three times previously with the Rams having won twice, including the most recent meeting between the programs in 2012.
Both Gonzaga and USC are consensus preseason top-25 programs and should once again contend for not only their respective conference championships, but deep NCAA Tournament runs this coming season. For the preseason No. 7 Bulldogs, three impact transfers – Ryan Nembhard (Creighton), Steele Venters (Eastern Washington) and Graham Ike (Wyoming) – step in the fill the void left by departing starters Drew Timme, Julian Strawther and Rasir Bolton. Anton Watson and Nolan Hickman return as likely starters for head coach Mark Few, who is set to begin his 25th season as the Bulldogs head coach. In the last 24 years, Gonzaga has made the NCAA Tournament every season, advanced to two national championship games and made 10 Sweet 16 appearances, winning more than 83 percent (689-135) of its games since Few took over.
Preseason No. 21 USC may boast the most dynamic backcourt in the country next season as the Trojans return all-conference guard Boogie Ellis and welcome the nation’s No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2023, Isaiah Collier. Returning starters Kobe Johnson and Joshua Morgan, along with graduate transfer DJ Rodman, will give the Trojans a deep, experienced core. Andy Enfield is entering his 11th season with the program and looks to guide the Trojans to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season, which would mark the longest streak in program history. Enfield’s USC teams have won 20 or more games in seven of the last eight seasons.
Sixth-year Colorado State head coach Niko Medved has established the Rams as a consistent presence in the Mountain West Conference. CSU has won double-digit conference games in three of the past four seasons. The Rams return three starters from last season’s team including four-time All-Mountain West guard and 2022 Bob Cousy Award Finalist Isaiah Stevens. Stevens led the team in scoring (17.9 ppg) and assists (6.7 apg) in 2022-23. Patrick Cartier and Jalen Lake also return from starting for CSU last year, while they add a trio of Centennial State transfers in Nique Clifford, Javonte Johnson and Joel Scott.
Washington, under seventh-year coach Mike Hopkins, returns two All-Pac-12 starters from last season – Keion Brooks Jr. and Braxton Meah – and welcomes a bevy of high caliber transfers led by Kentucky transfer Sahvir Wheeler and Rutgers transfer Paul Mulcahy. Brooks is the Pac-12's leading returning scorer after averaging 17.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game and reunites with his former Kentucky teammate Wheeler. Wheeler was a Bob Cousy award finalist as a junior in 2022 before enduring an injury plagued season last year. Mulcahy finished his Rutgers career fourth on the program’s all-time assists list. Meah started 31 games last year, averaging 8.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
The Legends of Basketball Las Vegas Invitational is one of many events that is part of Intersport’s early season college basketball calendar, which has seen considerable growth in the last five years. After initially launching a four-team event in Fort Myers in 2018, the Chicago-based agency has announced plans to host at least seven different events throughout the course of the 2023-24 season, beginning with the Radford-Marshall neutral site game at The Greenbrier in West Virginia (Nov. 10) before hosting 25 games during a nine-day stretch from Nov. 17-25. First, the inaugural Arizona Tip-Off will be held Nov. 17-19, followed by the Fort Myers Tip-Off from Nov. 20-22 and the Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off from Nov. 23-25. In December, Intersport will manage the Legends of Basketball Las Vegas Invitational on Dec. 2 and the CBS Sports Classic in Atlanta on Dec. 16 before finally hosting the Ohio State-West Virginia neutral site contest in Cleveland on Dec. 30. Additional event announcements will be forthcoming in the coming weeks.
About Intersport
Since 1985, Intersport has been an award-winning innovator and leader in the creation of sports, lifestyle, culinary and entertainment-based marketing platforms. With expertise in Sponsorship Consulting, Experiential Marketing, Hospitality, Customer Engagement, Content Marketing, Productions and Sports Properties, this Chicago-based Marketing & Media Solutions Company helps their clients to create ideas, content and experiences that attract and engage passionate audiences. To learn more about Intersport, visit www.intersport.global, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
About the National Basketball Retired Players Association
The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) is comprised of former professional basketball players from the NBA, ABA, and WNBA. It is a 501(c) 3 organization with a mission to develop, implement and advocate a wide array of programs to benefit its members, supporters and the community. The NBRPA was founded in 1992 by basketball legends Dave DeBusschere, Dave Bing, Archie Clark, Dave Cowens and Oscar Robertson. The NBRPA works in direct partnerships with the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association. Legends Care is the charitable initiative of the NBRPA that positively impacts youth and communities through basketball. Scott Rochelle is President and CEO, and the NBRPA Board of Directors includes Chairman of the Board Charles “Choo” Smith, Vice Chairman Shawn Marion, Treasurer Sam Perkins, Secretary Grant Hill, Nancy Lieberman, CJ Kupec, Mike Bantom, Caron Butler, Jerome Williams, Clarence “Chucky” Brown and Dave Bing. Learn more at legendsofbasketball.com.
The MGM Grand Garden Arena is home to concerts, championship boxing and premier sporting and special events. The Arena offers comfortable seating for as many as 16,800 with excellent sightlines and state-of-the-art acoustics, lighting and sound. Prominent events to date have included world championship fights between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson as well as Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez as well as Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao; and concerts by The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Bette Midler, George Strait, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, U2, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Jimmy Buffett and the Barbra Streisand Millennium Concert. The MGM Grand Garden Arena also has been home to annual events including the Academy of Country Music Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, the Latin GRAMMY Awards, iHeartRadio Music Festival, Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Championship and Frozen Fury NHL pre-season games hosted by the Los Angeles Kings.
NBRPA membership is comprised of a diverse group of former professional basketball players of the NBA, ABA, WNBA, and Harlem Globetrotters.
Each month, we'll spotlight one NBRPA member from each league to recognize their career on the court as well as the impact they are now having in their communities.
Lafayette “Fat” Lever
NBA
Lafayette "Fat" Lever is the founder and current president of the Legends of Basketball Phoenix Chapter (legendsofbasketballphx.com). As a business owner, entrepreneur, and community advocate, Fat is dedicated to working towards building strong kids and communities. The Legends of Basketball Phoenix Chapter offers youth sports and education programs and volunteers to work with community projects and non-profits. Including Feed My Starving Children, Luis Zendajas Foundation, Community Toy Drives, and special events benefiting children, education, and communities. You can also find our Legends hosting Full Court Press events and supporting local Basketball Clubs (Club Teams, Skills Camps, and Clinics). They also lend their support to Technology for Education Projects, STEM Education Programs, and Youth Entrepreneurship Programs. You can find more details here. https://legendsofbasketballphx.com/chapter-programs/
Our Legends lend their celebrity status as motivational speakers, presenters, judges, mentors, and through monetary donations. The Legends of Basketball Phoenix Chapter has sponsored everything from local club teams, to buying computers for schools, large toy drives, and even donating to our local make-a-wish foundation. They have supported events for Kids, Cancer Survivors, and Women Owned Businesses. The Chapter has a community presence everywhere that has a need. Fat Lever supports all the good in our communities, anywhere that needs support and dedicated attention. Playing and interacting with kids, talking to parents and teachers. As club president, he sets an amazing example for what caring for our communities should look like.
Throughout his career, Fat was considered one of the NBA's best point guards. Arizona State University honored him with an induction into the University's Hall of Fame in 1988, in 2004 he became a Pac-10 Hall of Honor inductee, and in 2012 his jersey hung in the rafters at, what was then known as, the Wells Fargo Arena at Arizona State. On December 2, 2017, the NBA's Denver Nuggets retired Fat's number 12 jersey during a winning home game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Fat's NBA Career didn't end with this retirement from playing ball. He also served as the director of player development for the Sacramento Kings, as well as a color analyst. You can currently hear Fat broadcasting with Altitude Sports
Oliver Darden
ABA
Oliver Darden is a former professional basketball player who played three seasons in the ABA. Darden attended Western High School in Detroit, Michigan, where he was Mr. Basketball for Detroit public schools in 1962. Darden played basketball for the University of Michigan and was a three year starter as part of the team that won three Big Ten championships in 1964, 1965, and 1966, a feat that has not been accomplished since then. He was chosen by his teammates to become the first African American in the history of the University of Michigan basketball to be elected as captain of the team. Darden was also chosen as one of the University of Michigan's top 25 Senior students by the Prestigious Michigamau Honorary fraternity in 1966.
Following his graduation from the University of Michigan, Darden was selected in the 3rd round as the 22nd overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons, then going on to play in the ABA from 1967 to 1970 as a member of the Indiana Pacers, New York Nets, and Kentucky Colonels. He won ABA championship in 1970 with the Pacers.
His past Board of Directors involvements includes: Chairman of the Board of the Gulf Coast African American Chamber of Commerce, WSRE television Board of Directors, Baptist Hospital Board of Directors, Vice Chairman of the Andrews Institute, The Pensacola Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, YMCA Board of Directors, University of West Florida Business Advisory Board, 100 Hundred Black Men Organization, and numerous involvements with youth organizations, speeches, coaching and motivational speeches.
Today, Darden is a community volunteer and substitute teacher, as well as the owner & operator of The Coffee Cup in Pensacola, Florida.
Janice Braxton
WNBA
Janice Lawrence Braxton is one of the greatest legends to ever play in women's basketball. She was born on June 7th in 1962, during the peak of racial disparities and discrimination of the South in Lucedale, Mississippi.
She would later find an outlet, away from all of the stress of mistreatment that was going on during the civil rights movement, picking up a love for women's basketball. Janice would work so hard in the sport, that she would later become the nations most sought after recruit, dominating the game at George County High School. Recruited by nearly every top tier team in college women's basketball, Janice would choose to play for Louisiana Tech, under the leadership of legendary Hall Of Fame coach, Leon Barmore. While at Louisiana Tech, Janice Lawrence would lead the Techsters to the Nation’s 1st ever National Championship in 1981, and then again in 1982.
After her historic college career, Janice would play in total, 15 straight years of professional women's basketball in Italy; because there were no WNBA professional opportunities yet in the U.S. at that time. She would dominate in Italy and become a super star all over the world before finally getting to showcase her talent professionally in her own country when the WNBA inaugurated in 1997.
Janice, one of the original pioneers of women's basketball, would finally get to come home and play for her home country in the opening season of the WNBA in 1997, playing for the Cleveland Rockers for 3 seasons until 1999. In 2003 she became an assistant coach for the WNBA Rockers all the way until the team disbanded in 2005.
Before retiring from the sport, Janice Lawrence Braxton would accumulate one of the greatest treasure troves of honors, awards, and accomplishments ever tallied in the game. She was the 1982 NCAA Tournaments leading scorer and National Championship MVP, a 3 time College All-American, 2 time Kodak All-American, WBCA player of the year, 1984 Wade Trophy recipient, 1983 gold medalist on the Pan Am team, Olympic gold medalist in 1984, won 6 European Cup Championships, 6 Italian Championships, was inducted into Louisiana Tech's Hall Of Fame in 1987, and into the Nation’s Women's Basketball Hall Of Fame of Knoxville, Tennessee in 1996.
Janice now proudly serves as a member of the NBRPA in the capacity as treasurer to the Cleveland, Ohio chapter, where she also helps to plan and organize events in her community.
Harold “Lefty” Williams
Harlem Globetrotters
Harold Williams, a native of Jersey City, NJ has become affectionately known around the world as Lefty after making history as the first ever left-handed Showman in Harlem Globetrotter history. Leading up to this astounding accomplishment and before the world got to know Lefty, Harold began making a name for himself as a high school basketball player. He scored 1000 points and 985 rebounds in only three years on his high school varsity team. In college, he earned defensive player of the year twice. One at Montclair State University as a freshman and again as a junior at New Jersey City University. More impressively, he signed a professional contract after attending a Division 3 school. While many deemed this as impossible, this accomplishment launched what would be a 15-year professional career playing in England, Germany, Japan, with the Harlem Ambassadors.
While he has accomplished many things within the world of basketball, Lefty proclaims that this distinction has been one of the most defining moments in his career. Another defining moment in his career has been in his role as the owner of his show entertainment basketball career, The Harlem Dreams. In this role, one Lefty takes great joy in providing audiences with a source of community pride while remaining firm on the company’s beliefs in unquestionable integrity, being service minded, exhibiting community involvement while continuing to focus on dreaming. All of which are a direct reflection of one of Lefty’s defining achievements off the basketball court – The Harold Lefty Williams Dare2Dream Foundation.
The Harold Lefty Williams Dare2Dream Foundation was launched in 2008, alongside his wife Shyneefa, as the Dare2Dream Campaign in an effort to provide local youth with life changing experiences that would help to broaden their perspectives of all that the world had to offer them. Since then, the campaign has grown into a non-profit organization which strives to do even more! Now, Lefty seeks to not only expose youth to what the world has to offer them, but also to reveal to them what they have to offer the world. His mission is to help young people unwrap the treasures that they have inside. His foundation was recognized by the National Basketball Association (NBA) G-League team the Wisconsin Herd during a Black History Month Celebration. During this celebration, his foundation’s logo was featured on the jerseys of the team’s players. Through events like these, his foundation continues to strive towards a mission of embracing children and inspiring lives.
As Lefty seeks to continue to enrich the lives of youth globally, he has transcended this desire in his role as both a husband and father. Often speaking of his wife and childhood friend, Shyneefa, as one of the reasons that he is who he is today, Lefty also attributes much of this to being a father of three beautiful children- Kiara, EJ & CJ. Naturally, Lefty views the role of dad as one of the most important titles he’ll ever hold. Along with the privilege of raising his children, he also manages their careers in Hollywood, which includes credits on multiple Disney and Nickelodeon projects as well as the ABC Network. With this comes the honor of developing his family into a “multigenerational family of talent which bridges the gap between professional sports and entertainment”, as noted in a Bloomberg article on his family’s multi-year partnership with Canadian based lifestyle brand – RYU (Respect Your Universe).
Currently, Lefty remains determined to build a legacy that positively impacts generations to come. As he works on the release of his first book, the work of his Dare2Dream Foundation, being an active member of the National Basketball Retired Players Association as well as through partnerships with other organizations helping to shape the lives of people in their own communities, Lefty continues to make marks on this world.
Legends Led Sherman Indian High School Youth in Basketball Activities and Life Skills Curriculum
CHICAGO, ILL. September 21, 2023 – The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) and its Los Angeles Chapter teamed up to bring basketball, fun and life skills lessons to youth at Sherman Indian High School, a boarding school for Native Americans, on Saturday, September 9th (9010 Magnolia Ave. Riverside, CA 95203) for the 3rd consecutive year. Led by Los Angeles Chapter President & ABA Legend Rick Darnell, NBA & Lakers Legend AC Green, NBA Legends Duane Cooper, Darwin Cook, Louis Nelson, and Juaquin Hawkins, WNBA Legend Linda Fröhlich, local youth participated in a wide array of basketball instruction including proper passing and shooting techniques, defensive drills and the value of effort.
Additionally, the students were treated to donated school/dorm supplies and apparel, as well as free lunch from local food trucks, onsite for the event, donated by the LA Chapter Members. NBA All-Star AC Green, proud to represent both Choctaw and Cherokee heritage, emphasized the value of the opportunity that Sherman Indian High School provides. The All-Native high school serves more than 200 students from 76 Native American tribes who apply to attend from across the country.
Full Court Press is designed to support the development of participating youth both on and off the court through basketball instruction, mentorship and an innovative life skills curriculum. Several Legends of Basketball, both men and women with NBA, WNBA, ABA and/or Harlem Globetrotters backgrounds, serve as basketball coaches and mentors for the 150-200 youth at each clinic while NBRPA community partners offer additional life skills programming.
Since 2013, the NBRPA has held over 100 Full Court Press: Prep for Success clinics impacting more than 7,500 underserved youth both locally and globally. With your support, Full Court Press and the NBRPA can increase their impact by donating here.
View images of the Full Court Press Program in Los Angeles:
(PHOTO CREDIT – NBRPA)
About the National Basketball Retired Players Association The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) is comprised of former professional basketball players from the NBA, ABA, and WNBA. It is a 501(c) 3 organization with a mission to develop, implement and advocate a wide array of programs to benefit its members, supporters and the community. The NBRPA was founded in 1992 by basketball legends Dave DeBusschere, Dave Bing, Archie Clark, Dave Cowens and Oscar Robertson. The NBRPA works in direct partnerships with the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association. Legends Care is the charitable initiative of the NBRPA that positively impacts youth and communities through basketball. Scott Rochelle is President and CEO, and the NBRPA Board of Directors includes Chairman of the Board Charles “Choo” Smith, Treasurer Sam Perkins, Secretary Grant Hill, Nancy Lieberman, CJ Kupec, Mike Bantom, Caron Butler, Jerome Williams, Shawn Marion, and Clarence “Chucky” Brown. Learn more at legendsofbasketball.com.
About Sherman Indian High School Sherman Indian High School (SIHS) is an off-reservation boarding high school for Native Americans. Originally opened in 1892 and operated by the Bureau of Indian Education/Bureau of Indian Affairs and the U.S. Government Department of the Interior, the school serves grades 9 through 12. SIHS students represent over 76 federally recognized tribes from across the U.S. About 68% of students come from reservations throughout the U.S. (the remaining students come from urban or suburban settings). Learn more about Sherman Indian High School at shermanindian.org/.
On Monday, September 18, the NBRPA debuted a new content series across @NBAalumni social media channels, remixing some of the best moves in NBA history as part of count down to the start of the upcoming 2023-2024 NBA season.
Legends Mixtapes, also known as "Mixtape Mondays," reimagine old-school NBA highlights set to music from the modern era, starting with a contemporary showcase of 6x NBA Champion Bob Cousy accompanied by M.O.P.'s "Ante Up." The Houdini of the Hardwood himself loved seeing the new interpretation of his ball-handling talent and said: "What a treat!"
In just the first 24 hours after its release, the inaugural mixtape produced over half a million views, plus thousands of engagements, and counting.
Watch the first two installments of the Legends Mixtape series below and follow @NBAalumi on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Threads to be the first to see the latest Legends Mixtape every Monday.
