NBA, FIBA and Serbian Basketball Federation to host first-ever Basketball Without Borders camp in Belgrade

NEW YORK/MIES/BELGRADE - The NBA, FIBA and the Basketball Federation of Serbia (KSS) on Thursday announced that the 17th edition of Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Europe will be held August 15-18 at Zarkovo Sports Hall in Belgrade, marking the first time that the NBA and FIBA's global basketball development and community outreach program will be held in Serbia.

BWB Europe 2018 will bring together the top male and female players ages 17 and under from throughout Europe to learn directly from NBA and FIBA players, legends and coaches and to compete against the best young players from the region.

Nemanja Bjelica (Minnesota Timberwolves, Serbia); Bogdan Bogdanovic (Sacramento Kings, Serbia); Gary Harris (Denver Nuggets, USA); Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets, Serbia) and Frank Kaminsky (Charlotte Hornets, USA/Serbia) will lead the campers through a variety of activities on and off the court. Divac and Peja Stojakovic (both Sacramento Kings, Serbia) who both took part in the inaugural 2001 BWB Europe camp will also attend, with additional players, former players to be announced.

Current NBA coaches Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs, USA), Popeye Jones (Indiana Pacers, USA) and Jacque Vaughn (Brooklyn Nets, USA) will serve as BWB Europe coaches with additional coaches and coaching staff to be announced. Marin Sedlacek (Philadelphia 76ers, Serbia) and Patrick Hunt (President of the World Association of Basketball Coaches) will serve as camp directors.

Nike, a BWB global partner since 2002, will outfit the campers and coaches with Nike apparel and footwear.

Follow BWB using the hashtag #BWBEurope on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

BWB Asia 2018 was held in Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), Indiam from May 30-June 2. BWB Africa 2018 will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa from August 1-4.

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Executive quotes
Zoran Radovic, FIBA National Federations & Sport Director, said: "We're very pleased to bring the Basketball Without Borders program to Serbia for the very first time," said . "Belgrade lives and breathes basketball and the country as a whole boasts a wealth of talented young players. We look forward to teaming up with the NBA and the Basketball Federation of Serbia to put the top boys and girls from across Europe through their paces."

Dejan Tomasevic, Basketball Federation of Serbia (KSS) Secretary General, said: "The Basketball Federation of Serbia is thrilled to host BWB Europe 2018. We would like to express our gratitude to our friends at FIBA and the NBA for making this event possible. Our country has given many talents to European and American basketball; hence we consider this honor well deserved. As Secretary General of the Basketball Federation of Serbia, but also as a former player, I know what this will mean to the kids who will participate in the camp. The experience of the coaches and players, the enthusiasm of the hosts combined with the immense amount of love and passion for this wonderful sport will altogether make this a unique experience for the young talent. We are looking forward to seeing some old faces and truly delighted to meet new friends. Belgrade will once again prove itself trustworthy in terms of organization and we are certain everyone will have a great time. Dear friends, welcome and enjoy!"

Kim Bohuny, NBA Senior Vice President of International Basketball Operations, said: "Hosting Basketball Without Borders in Belgrade is symbolic for the NBA since the first BWB camp brought together 50 young men from Eastern Europe more than 15 years ago. The region has a deep connection to and history with the sport of basketball, and the level of talent in the region and throughout Europe is at an all-time high. We look forward to providing the top young players on the continent with an opportunity to learn from and compete against one another."

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About Basketball Without Borders (BWB)
BWB, the NBA and FIBA's global basketball development and community outreach program, has reached more than 3,200 participants from 127 countries and territories since 2001, with more than 55 former campers drafted into the NBA or signed as free agents. A record 24 former BWB campers were on opening-night rosters for the 2017-18 NBA season, including Milos Teodosic (Los Angeles Clippers; Serbia; BWB Europe 2001).

The NBA and FIBA have staged 54 BWB camps in 34 cities across 27 countries on six continents. More than 260 current and former NBA, WNBA and FIBA players have joined more than 200 NBA team personnel from all 30 NBA teams to support BWB across the world.

The first-ever Basketball Without Borders camp took place in Europe in July 2001. Vlade Divac (Serbia) and Toni Kukoc (Croatia), together with former teammates from the Yugoslav national team, reunited to work with 50 children from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (MKD), Slovenia and Serbia and Montenegro at La Ghirada in Treviso, Italy.

Click here to find out more.

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About FIBA
FIBA (fiba.basketball) - the world governing body for basketball - is an independent association formed by 213 National Basketball Federations throughout the world. It is recognised as the sole competent authority in basketball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

For further information about FIBA, visit fiba.basketball or follow FIBA on facebook.com/fiba, twitter.com/fiba, instagram.com/fiba and youtube.com/fiba.