NBA and FIBA to host first Basketball Without Borders camp since 2020 in Mexico next month

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and FIBA today announced that Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Americas will be held in San Luis Potosi, Mexico from Monday, May 16 to Thursday, May 19.

The 11th BWB Americas camp will mark the first time the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program will be held since BWB Global at NBA All-Star 2020 in Chicago and the first time in Mexico since 2009.

BWB Americas 2022 will bring together more than 60 of the top high-school age boys and girls from throughout Latin America, Canada and the Caribbean to learn directly from current and former NBA and FIBA players, legends and coaches and compete alongside their peers from across the region. The campers and coaches will also take part in life skills, leadership development and community service programming.

“We couldn’t be more excited to host Basketball Without Borders at NBA Academy Latin America as part of our continued efforts to grow the game at all levels across the region,” said NBA Latin America Senior Vice President and Managing Director Arnon de Mello.  “Over the years, BWB has provided a platform for the most talented boys and girls in Latin America to develop their skills on the court and grow as leaders. The fact that this is the first BWB camp in more than two years will make this year’s event particularly special for the campers who have earned the right to represent their country.”

“We are very excited to team up once again with the NBA to bring Basketball Without Borders to Mexico,” said FIBA National Federations & Sport Director Zoran Radovic. “It has been two years since we have last been able to meet together as a BWB group, and we are happy to be able to join together again, both on and off the court, to help develop and strengthen the future of basketball in Latin America.”

“We look forward to hosting BWB Americas at La Loma as we continue working closely with the NBA to promote the game of basketball in Mexico and throughout Latin America,” said La Loma President and CEO Rafael Lebrija Hirschfeld.  “La Loma is committed to fostering an environment conducive to fun, healthy and competitive sporting events, and camps like BWB align with our overall mission.”

A record 35 former BWB campers were among the record 121 international playerson opening-night NBA rosters for the 2021-22 season, including five-time NBA All-Star Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2011), 2019 NBA champion Pascal Siakam (Raptors; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2012), 2019 NBA All-Rookie First Team member Deandre Ayton (Phoenix Suns; Bahamas; BWB Global 2016), 2020 NBA All-Rookie Second Team member Rui Hachimura (Washington Wizards; Japan; BWB Global 2016) and 2017 NBA All-Rookie Second Team member Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets; Canada; BWB Global 2015).

Former BWB Americas campers currently in the NBA include Leandro Bolmaro (Minnesota Timberwolves; Argentina; BWB Americas 2017), Facundo Campazzo (Denver Nuggets; Argentina; BWB Americas 2009), Kai Jones (Charlotte Hornets; Bahamas; BWB Americas 2017), Kelly Olynyk (Detroit Pistons; Canada; BWB Americas 2013) and Luca Vildoza (Milwaukee Bucks; Argentina; BWB Americas 2013).

The NBA and FIBA have hosted 62 BWB camps in 30 countries since the program’s launch in 2001. BWB has reached more than 3,700 participants from 133 countries and territories, with 96 former campers drafted into the NBA and WNBA or signed as free agents.  BWB Americas 2019 took place in Medellin, Colombia and brought together more than 60 male and female players to learn from former BWB campers Bruno Caboclo (Brazil; BWB Americas 2013) and Jamal Murray, among others.

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

BWB Americas 2022 campers and coaches will be announced in the coming weeks and the upcoming camp can be followed on Instagram at@basketballwithoutborders, @nbalatam, @nbamex and @nbabrasil or by using the hashtag #BWBAmericas.