The National Basketball Association, or NBA, is a professional basketball league comprised of 30 teams across North America featuring the best basketball players in the world. The NBA was founded on June 6, 1946 in New York City and was originally called the Basketball Association of America.The NBRPA works regularly with the NBA to collaborate on public events, community relations and former player transition programming. Since 2011, the NBA’s annual financial contribution to the NBRPA has increased nearly 50 percent. The NBRPA has also formed new key partnerships with the NBA Players Legacy Fund, which provides funding for former players in dire straits. The NBRPA has rebuilt its long-standing relationship with the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), as shown by the organizations’ renewed interest in program partnerships. Both are committed to transparency and promoting the rights and achievements of Legends.
Legends Care Initiative
The NBRPA works with the NBA on the Legends Care initiative that positively impacts communities and youth through basketball. NBRPA Legends often partner with NBA Cares to give back through clinics, mentoring, charitable outreach and other grassroots initiatives in the United States and abroad with the goal of educating, inspiring and keeping youth active, healthy and safe.
G-League
In partnering with the NBA, the NBA’s Gatorade League (G-League) announced a new intensive externship exclusively for NBRPA members to immerse themselves into the business operations of the G-League. Members are able to work at the G-League Showcase and the G-League All-Star Weekend. The new initiative matches retired players with tangible opportunities to learn, develop and showcase their talents. Just as dozens of current NBA players began their professional careers in the G-League, so too have current NBA coaches, scouts, front office personnel, and broadcasters. This externship program gives participants an opportunity to jump start their transition after retirement, by gaining practical experience and networking with personnel from the NBA and the G-League in one of the following areas: Community Relations/PR, Event Management, Partner Hospitality, Broadcast Operations and Basketball Operations.
Assistant Coaches' Program
The NBA’s Assistant Coaches Program which takes place during the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, NBA Combine and NBA G-League Tryout. The ACP provides participants the opportunity to sharpen their coaching skills through hands-on experience, coaching and basketball strategies, and to better prepare them for pursuit in their coaching and basketball endeavors. First implemented in 1988, this program has exposed over 150 qualified former players to GMs, coaches and NBA/ G- League team personnel as potential coaches, including many current NBRPA members.