The Plenary Hall of the Cabildo de Lanzarote hosted this Friday the official presentation of the Jr. NBA League, an extraordinary grassroots basketball event that will take place this weekend at the Tías Pavilion.
Present at the presentation were the Minister of Physical Activity and Sports, Juan Monzón; the Councilor for Sports of the Tías City Council, Ismael Cruz; and the delegate of the Canary Islands Basketball Federation in Lanzarote, Sergio Castro.
The initiative, globally known and which faithfully transfers the magic and structure of the great North American league to the island courts, is aimed at boys and girls in the minibasket category, allowing local young students to compete wearing the official uniforms of the most famous franchises in world basketball, such as the Lakers, the Celtics, or the Chicago Bulls, among others.
"It is a genuine pride and a privilege for Lanzarote to host an event of the magnitude of the Jr. NBA League, an event that transcends the purely sporting to become an unforgettable life experience for our children," said the Minister of Physical Activity and Sports, Juan Monzón, who also emphasized that seeing schoolchildren defend the colors of their favorite franchises with official jerseys is an unparalleled stimulus to get them hooked on sports.
The school tournament has the firm support of the island Corporation through the Insular Sports Service, and together with the Tías City Council, it is being developed in close collaboration with the Canary Islands Basketball Federation.
The competition format exactly replicates the US league system, dividing the participating schools into the Eastern and Western Conferences until reaching the knockout or playoff phase, where the team that will win the coveted championship ring will be decided. Beyond the competitive aspect, the program places an absolute focus on transmitting the fundamental values of the NBA, such as teamwork, sportsmanship, respect, and the promotion of healthy lifestyle habits.
Likewise, Minister Juan Monzón wanted to make a direct appeal to all of Lanzarote society, to the clubs and families of the island so that they do not miss this spectacle and come to the pavilions to support the youth teams.
About JR. NBA League
The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA FEB 3v3 tournament presented by Kellogg’s, will mark the third installment of the competition organized by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) in collaboration with the Autonomous Federations of each of the venues, in this case with the Canary Islands Basketball Federation.
Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA is the league’s global youth basketball program for boys and girls that teaches the fundamental skills and core values of the game—teamwork, respect, determination, and community—at the grassroots level, with the aim of contributing to the growth and improvement of the youth basketball experience for players, coaches, and families. Between October 2024 and September 2025, the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA program reached 51 million young people, referees, and coaches in 193 countries and territories through a network of affiliated youth organizations, as well as through in-person and digital events, leagues, and camps.
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