(Sports News) The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Reliance Foundation (RF), a non-profit organization supporting philanthropic initiatives of Reliance Industries Limited, jointly announced the commencement of the 10th consecutive year of the RF Jr. NBA program. Starting on Friday, July 22, the program will offer free basketball development clinics and tournaments for youth, coaches, and teachers across the nation. Aimed at positively impacting the lives of Indian youth, the RF Jr. NBA program is a comprehensive initiative that instills the values and fundamentals of basketball.

This year’s program includes several exciting features:

1. RF Jr. NBA National Championship Tournament: For the first time, the NBA and RF will organize 3-on-3 tournaments for U-12 and U-14 youth in 14 cities throughout India, culminating with the RF Jr. NBA National Championship in Delhi in September. The national champions for boys and girls in the U-12 and U-14 categories will be crowned.

2. RF Jr. NBA Coaches Clinics: In-person and virtual clinics will be conducted for local coaches and physical education teachers. These clinics will focus on teaching techniques and best practices for team and player development, covering areas like strength and conditioning, mental well-being, and nutrition.

3. RF Jr. NBA RISE: Standout players from Aizawl and Chennai will have the opportunity to receive additional training through fortnightly weekend clinics throughout the year. Selected participants will also receive complimentary basketball equipment to support their training and development.

A spokesperson from Reliance Foundation expressed their pleasure in collaborating with NBA India to make basketball more accessible through the Reliance Foundation Jr. NBA program. They emphasized their goal of developing India into a multi-sport nation and highlighted the decade-long collaboration’s positive impact on millions of children, coaches, and communities.

NBA India Country Head, Rajah Chaudhry, shared his excitement about the 10th edition of the RF Jr. NBA program, which has engaged millions of children and educators over the past decade, providing them with the resources to grow as players and leaders. He mentioned that this year’s edition would introduce new and impactful formats, programs, and clinics to further enhance basketball’s momentum in India and inspire more youth to learn and play the game.

Since Reliance Foundation’s inception in 2013, the RF Jr. NBA program has reached over 11 million youth and 13,000 physical education instructors across 34 cities in India. It is part of the NBA’s broader basketball development initiatives in the country, offering a structured pathway for players to learn the game and reach their full potential. Additionally, the NBA has also launched the NBA Basketball School in Mumbai and hosted Basketball Without Borders Asia in India twice in partnership with FIBA.

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