NBA hosts youth basketball development initiatives in Macao and Abu Dhabi

The NBA has hosted significant youth basketball development initiatives in Macao and Abu Dhabi.

In Macao, Sands China partnered with NBA Cares to launch the ‘NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week 2026’ from October 7 to 11. The program included a ‘Youth Day’ at the Macao East Asian Games Dome, involving 300 participants. The initiative expanded to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, bringing together 150 young players from Macao schools and 50 players from Hong Kong and mainland China. NBA legend Ray Allen and Chinese player Ding Yanyuhang led professional training sessions for the participants.

In Abu Dhabi, the NBA and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi hosted the inaugural NBA Academy Select Showcase at NYU Abu Dhabi from September 23 to 26. The four-day event featured 36 high-school-age prospects from 15 countries across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. The showcase included skills development and exhibition games led by NBA figures such as Ron Harper and Jason Richardson. The event concluded with a championship game where a team representing the Chicago Bulls defeated a team representing the San Antonio Spurs 42-23.