The Sydney Kings exciting partnership with Basketball NSW will continue on the back of a first year that exceeded expectations.
Both parties are focused on growing the game in their respective areas of the basketball community and working for the common goal – spreading the benefits of the sport across all demographics throughout NSW.
Some highlight joint venture achievements over the past 12 months include:
– The Aussie Hoops program, which provided basketball clinics to children from seven associations on the floor of Qudos Bank Arena before Sydney Kings games. Aussie Hoopers also formed guards of honour for Kings players, with their respective associations receiving discounted tickets to that game.
– A special ‘Grassroots game’, held on December 18 against Adelaide 36ers, which allowed free entry for any association player under 18 that wore their local jersey. They were acknowledged on stage. (photos below)
– A free ‘Super Clinic’ for 300 kids, highlighted by Andrew Gaze’s inimitable enthusiasm with attendance by every Kings player. Children participated in drills, spent time with their Kings role models and went home with plenty of photos and autographs. (Photos and video included below)
Additionally, every metropolitan association was allocated a Sydney Kings ambassador who visited those associations during the season, participated in promotional events and clinics, and took part in local school visits.
CEO of BNSW, Maria Nordstrom, says she believes the first 12 months of the partnership went exceedingly well and is looking forward to achieving even more in the coming year.
“Our partnership with the Kings is about providing the connective tissue between our elite and kids and their families who love basketball. In the first year we saw the start of a partnership which connected our Aussie Hoops learn-to-play program with players, school engagements and community based sports association days for our country as well as Sydney members. This provided a great opportunity for our associations to market basketball in their local communities with a Kings players as their ambassador and bring more people back to the games at Qudos Bank Arena.
We are exceedingly happy about this year’s continued partnership and what it will bring to our members and the broader Sydney and NSW communities and are looking forward to building on this in years to come. We want everyone to help us take back the streets and make basketball everyone’s game in NSW”, Nordstrom said.
Sydney Kings Managing Director Jeff Van Groningen echoed those thoughts.
“It’s been fantastic to have the Kings working hand-in-hand with BNSW. All of our players and coaching staff have enjoyed giving back to the great game of basketball across greater Sydney and we are looking forward to engaging further, particularly with country associations over the next year. We thank BNSW and most importantly we thank all the young players who have made this year so enjoyable”, Van Groningen said.
BNSW is also adding ‘3×3’ basketball to the calendar with two major events planned. ‘Tip off’, scheduled for the 22-23rd September at Sydney Olympic Park, culminating in a ‘Basketball Festival’ on 8-9th December outside Qudos Bank Arena. This event will take place in conjunction with the Sydney University Flames and Sydney Kings double header on December 9 vs Brisbane Bullets.
BNSW also plans for an increased TV and Livestream presence throughout the next 12 months.