The fourth season of the Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League, launched by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) in November, wrapped up with an exciting finals event this weekend at NYU Abu Dhabi.
The event also featured special appearances by NBA Legends Danny Green and Gary Payton. During the closing ceremony, Green and Payton presented awards to the champions of the fourth annual Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League, including the Raha International School Khalifa City Campus (Dallas Mavericks), the British International School (Milwaukee Bucks), ADQ (Golden State Warriors) and the ADQ (Boston Celtics).
Associate Vice President Global Partnerships, NBA Europe & Middle East, David Watts, was also present at the event.
This season saw the Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League expand to four leagues and 122 teams, with 1,830 players from Abu Dhabi and Al Ain participating. The program is part of a multiyear partnership between the NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi, which has included six preseason NBA games hosted in Abu Dhabi since 2022.
The Jr. NBA is the NBA’s global youth basketball program for boys and girls, focused on teaching fundamental skills and core values of the game—teamwork, respect, determination, and community—at the grassroots level. The Jr. NBA Abu Dhabi League aims to promote these values and inspire youth to lead an active and healthy lifestyle through participation in sport.
