STB, SportSG bring NBA events to Singapore with new multi-year deal

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The National Basketball Association (NBA) has teamed up with Sport Singapore (SportSG) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in a multi-year collaboration to bring a series of NBA events to Singapore.

Commencing this June, the NBA, SportSG and STB will launch a new, multiday immersive basketball and entertainment festival in Singapore culminating with the “NBA rising stars invitational,” the league’s first regional high school basketball tournament that will feature boys’ and girls’ teams from ten countries and territories across Asia-Pacific (APAC). The tournament will be held at the Kallang Alive Precinct from 25 June to 29 June.

The collaboration was announced in Singapore at an event attended by NBA Asia, STB and SportSG executives and Chris Bosh, two-time NBA champion and Naismith basketball "hall of fame" member.

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The basketball and entertainment festival will be headlined by a lineup of current and former NBA and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players, who will be announced ahead of event. The festival will also feature a range of activities for fans, including community outreach initiatives, open courts, photo opportunities with authentic NBA memorabilia, player appearances and meet-and-greet sessions, exclusive clinics, as well as entertainment and interactive experiences.

Operated by the event agencies of NBA Singapore, the first annual NBA "Rising stars invitational" will feature boys’ and girls’ divisions comprised of standout high school teams for youth aged 18 and under.

The five-day tournament will tip off with round-robin play before advancing to single-elimination competition, with pool games taking place from 25 June to 27 June, culminating with the semi-finals and final games on 28 June and 29 June, respectively. The participating players will also take part in skill development, social responsibility programming and off-court activities promoting cultural exchange.

The participating teams in the tournament will be identified in collaboration with local basketball federations and leagues, with select markets hosting local qualifying events to determine its representative. As the host country, Singapore will be represented by two teams in each division.

Additionally, top individual performers from the event will have the opportunity to attend future NBA basketball development camps, showcases and programs.

“Basketball is the second most-played sport amongst youth in Asia, and our goal with the NBA 'Rising stars invitational' is to build on that momentum and provide a stage for top players to compete alongside and against their peers from across the region,” said Wayne Chang, managing director for NBA Asia.

He added, “The NBA 'Rising stars invitational' will help accelerate and elevate the basketball ecosystem in APAC while serving as a viable pathway for players to receive additional basketball training. We look forward to working with SportSG and STB to bring NBA 'Rising stars invitational' and other exciting events to Singapore.”

In tandem, Alan Goh, chief executive officer at SportSG said the organisation is excited to partner with the NBA to create an immersive festival of basketball.

“Through this multi-year partnership with the NBA, we aim to elevate basketball, one of Singapore’s most popular team sports, to the next level, inspire our next generation of players, and fuel our nation’s passion for this game," he added.

Additonally, Melissa Ow, chief executive of STB said, “The NBA’s presence in Singapore enriches our city's dynamic offerings and solidifies our standing as a premier sporting destination."

“We are delighted to host the inaugural NBA Rising Stars Invitational in Singapore this June. We look forward to welcoming some of the best youth teams in Asia and their families to our shores, and hope that they will create lasting memories exploring the myriad experiences Singapore has to offer beyond the courts," she added.

Additional information about the multiday festival and the tournament, including ticket information, marketing partners and media partners, will be announced at a later date.

STB has played a critical role in bringing big names to Singapore in recent times. Earlier this week, the agency struck gold by featuring the nation in Coldplay's latest music video for the song "Man in The Moon". The video, done in collaboration with STB and Warner Music Singapore, blends Coldplay's signature sound with Singapore's dynamic cityscape and diverse talent.

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