LONDON AND WROCŁAW, POLAND, Aug. 17, 2023 –The National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Polish Basketball Federation (PZKosz) today announced that the 20th edition of Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Europe will be held at the WKK Sport Center in Wrocław, Poland from Friday, August 25 – Monday, August 28. This marks the first time the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program will be held in Poland.
BWB Europe 2023 will bring together the top high-school-age prospects from across Europe to learn directly from current and former NBA, WNBA and FIBA players, legends and coaches, including San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (Poland; ties to the UK) and former WNBA player Ruth Riley (U.S.). The campers and coaches, who will be announced prior to the camp, will also take part in life skills, leadership development and NBA Cares programming.
“We’re excited to work with FIBA and the Polish Basketball Federation to bring Basketball Without Borders to Poland for the first time,” said NBA Europe and Middle East Associate Vice President of Basketball Operations, Neal Meyer. “This prestigious camp has helped identify and develop some of best male and female prospects from Europe, and we look forward to welcoming this year’s campers to Wrocław to continue their development under the guidance of NBA, WNBA and FIBA players, legends and coaches.”
“We are excited to have this BWB Europe camp take place in Poland, which also marks the 20th edition in the region,” said FIBA National Federations & Sport Director Zoran Radovic. “With basketball development gaining momentum in Poland, particularly after the successful men’s national team performance in the FIBA EuroBasket 2022, this camp is sure to be a huge success thanks to the strong support of the Polish Basketball Federation. We are sure all participants will gain a lot from this experience, both on and off the court, and we wish them all the best.”
“Basketball in Poland has been making an impact on international basketball for the last few years thanks to the Polish Men’s National Team,” said Polish Basketball Federation & Polish Olympic Committee President, Radosław Piesiewicz. “We are determined to use this momentum to establish Poland as one of the global leading basketball forces going forward. I truly believe that our experience from hosting high-level basketball international events will allow us to make this year’s edition of Basketball Without Borders Europe in Wrocław an incredible experience for everyone involved. Moreover, I am confident that this is only the beginning of our successful cooperation with the NBA and demonstrates that in Poland, we are open to hosting more basketball related events. Youth is the future of our sport, and I hope that every girl and boy invited to Wroclaw will leverage the great development platform that the NBA provides for these young athletes.”
Thirty-eight former BWB campers were among the 120 international players on opening-night rosters for the 2022-23 NBA season, including Danilo Gallinari (Washington Wizards; Italy; BWB Europe 2003), Deni Avdija (Wizards; Israel; BWB Europe 2018 and BWB Global 2019), Killian Hayes (Detroit Pistons; France; BWB Europe 2018 and BWB Global 2019), Dario Šarić (Golden State Warriors; Croatia; BWB Europe 2010) and Jonas Valančiūnas (New Orleans Pelicans; Lithuania; BWB Europe 2008).
BWB Europe 2023 will be supported by Nike, a global partner of BWB since 2002, which will outfit participants with Nike apparel and footwear, and Gatorade, which will keep players and coaches hydrated throughout the camp.
BWB has reached more than 4,200 participants from 137 countries and territories since 2001, with 112 former campers advancing to the NBA or WNBA. The NBA and FIBA have staged 71 BWB camps in 47 cities across 32 countries on six continents.
Live NBA games and programming air in Poland on CANAL+ POLSKA and NBA League Pass via the NBA App, including 45 weekend games in primetime last season as part of the league’s “NBA Saturdays and NBA Sundays” European primetime initiative. For more information about the NBA, fans in Poland can follow the league on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, download the NBA App, and purchase the latest NBA merchandise at NBAStore.eu.
