Former NBA player Jason Richardson is visiting China May 1-4 to celebrate the NBA Playoffs with Chinese fans and to support the continued growth of basketball in the country.
Richardson will make his first stop in Beijing on May 2, where he willengage with players participating in the finals of the first Jr. NBA Basketball League, a school-based league for highschool studentsages 16-18, at the LeSports Center.
Richardson will also conduct a basketball clinic on May 2 at the NBA Yao Basketball Club. On May 3, he will make an appearance on CCTV's "NBA Primetime" and visit Beijing No.35 Middle School – one of the participating Jr.NBA schools – to share the values of the game with students.
"I know how much fans love the game of basketball in China and I look forward to meeting and connecting with them," said Richardson. "This is also a great opportunity to share my knowledge and passion of the game with Chinese fans during the exciting NBA Playoffs."
Richardson, a 6'6'' guard/forward from Saginaw, Mich., was selected fifth overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 2001 NBA Draft. During the course of his 13-year NBA career, Richardson played for the Warriors, Charlotte Bobcats (now Charlotte Hornets), Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers before officially retiring in 2015. Richardsonwas named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2002 and is a two-time NBA Slam Dunk Champion (2002 &2003).
The first Jr. NBA Basketball League in Beijing was launched in November 2015 as part of the existing partnership between NBA China and the Ministry of Education to promote basketball education and youth development in elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and universities in China.
The Jr. NBA, the league's global youth basketball participation program for boys and girls, teaches the fundamental skills as well as the core values of the game at the grassroots level in an effort to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches and parents. During the 2015-16 season, the Jr. NBA will reach more than 6.5 million youth in 33 countries.
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