Basketball Without Borders Europe 2024 – Camp recap and award winners

The 21^st edition of Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Europe took place in Málaga, Spain from May 31 to June 3.

The global basketball development and community outreach program organized by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), hosted 60 of the top high-school age prospects from 25 countries across Europe and Middle East, including Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, among others, to learn directly from current and former NBA and WNBA players and coaches.

Basketball Without Borders Europe 2024 culminated yesterday with an awards ceremony led by NBA Europe and Middle East Associate Vice President of Basketball Operations, Neal Meyer, which recognized Jovana Popovic (Serbia) and Mathieu Grujicic (Germany) as the Kim Bohuny BWB Europe 2024 Camp MVP for the girls and boys division, respectively.

The Patrick Baumann Sportsmanship Award was presented by President of the World Association of Basketball Coaches, Deputy Chair of FIBA Technical Commission and Camp Director, Patrick Hunt to Dovydas Buika (Lithuania) and Wiktoria Haegenbarth (Poland) for the boys and girls division, respectively. (Full list of awards winners available below).

Some key facts and figures about BWB Europe 2024:

• 4,300 –The NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program, BWB has reached more than 4,300 participants from 140 countries and territories since 2001.

• 119 former BWB campers have advanced to play in the NBA or WNBA, including Danilo Gallinari (Milwaukee Bucks; Italy; BWB Europe 2003), Deni Avdija (Washington Wizards; Israel; BWB Europe 2018 and BWB Global 2019), Dario Šarić (Golden State Warriors; Croatia; BWB Europe 2010), 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2011), Jonas Valančiūnas (New Orleans Pelicans; Lithuania; BWB Europe 2008), Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz; Finland; BWB Global 2015), 2019 NBA Champion Pascal Siakam (Toronto Raptors; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2012) and 2024 NBA All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder; Canada; BWB Global 2016). Former NBA player and Spanish National Team member Marc Gasol, whose No. 33 jersey was retired by the Memphis Grizzlies last month, participated in BWB Europe 2010 in Barcelona.

• 74 – There have been 74 BWB camps in 49 cities across 33 countries on six continents. BWB Europe 2024 was the 21st edition in Europe, and the third edition to take place in Spain.

• 60 – This weekend, 30 top boys and 30 girls ages 18 and under traveled to Málaga from across Europe and the Middle East to participate in skill development, athletic testing, movement efficiency, and 5-on-5 games.

• 60 – On Saturday, June 1, the NBA brought 60 boys and girls from the local community with cognitive functional diversity together to participate in a Jr. NBA clinic led by the BWB Europe 2024 coaches.

• 100 local stakeholders, coaches and referees were led in basketball development clinics throughout the week by the NBA’s Referee Operations department, as well as an NBA and FIBA-led coaches clinic hosted by NBA assistant coaches Dutch Gaitley (Sacramento Kings), Joshua Longstaff (Charlotte Hornets), and Anna Montañana (former WNBA player and Hozono Global Jairis coach).

• 8 former NBA and WNBA players and coaches, including Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton, San Antonio Spurs guard Devonte Graham, three-time WNBA champion and NBA Europe Ambassador Amaya Valdemoro, former WNBA player and Hozono Global Jairis coach Anna Montañana, NBA assistant coaches Kenny Atkinson (Golden State Warriors), Dutch Gaitley (Sacramento Kings), Popeye Jones (Denver Nuggets) and Joshua Longstaff (Charlotte Hornets) served as BWB Europe 2024 coaches.

BWB Europe 2024 award winners