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Abu Dhabi: Basketball legends Danny Green and Gary Payton praised the impact of the Jr NBA Abu Dhabi League after it recently concluded its fourth edition with the finals event at NYU Abu Dhabi.

The competition was launched in November by the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi and the National Basketball Association.

At the closing ceremony, Green and Payton presented awards to the champions of the fourth annual Jr NBA Abu Dhabi League, including the Raha International School Khalifa City Campus (Dallas Mavericks), the British International School (Milwaukee Bucks), ADQ (Golden State Warriors) and the ADQ (Boston Celtics).  The associate vice president for global partnerships at NBA Europe & Middle East, David Watts, was also present at the event.

This season the Jr NBA Abu Dhabi League expanded to four leagues and 122 teams, with 1,830 players from Abu Dhabi and Al-Ain participating. The program is part of a multiyear partnership between the NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi, which has included six preseason NBA games in Abu Dhabi since 2022.

The Jr NBA is the NBA’s global youth basketball program for boys and girls, focused on teaching fundamental skills and core values of the game — teamwork, respect, determination, and community — at the grassroots level. The league aims to promote these values and inspire youth to lead an active and healthy lifestyle through participation in sport.

Arab News spoke to Green and Payton after the event.

Danny Green

As a three-time NBA champion, what does it mean to you to see programs like the Jr NBA inspiring young athletes here in Abu Dhabi?

It truly means a lot. I remember being a kid with big dreams, and basketball gave me the opportunity to travel the world — to visit places I only imagined. Being in Abu Dhabi now, and seeing how the game is growing here, is incredibly humbling. The fact that young players are picking up a basketball because they’ve watched me play — that’s something I never expected. It’s surreal, and honestly one of the most rewarding parts of my career.

How important is it for you to help develop not just basketball skills, but also values like teamwork and respect, which the Jr NBA emphasizes?

It’s huge. The reality is not everyone will make it to the NBA — but the lessons you learn through basketball go way beyond the court. Things like leadership, communication, respect, and doing things the right way — those are values that apply to life in general. Those lessons translate into life and any career path. The leadership, the camaraderie, the ability to work with others — those are universal skills that can help shape your future in a meaningful way.

From your experience visiting Abu Dhabi, what potential do you see for basketball culture to grow in this region?

There’s real potential here. Every basketball nation has a starting point — look at France or Serbia, countries that weren’t always seen as global forces in the game. Now they’re among the best. Growth takes time, but with the passion I’ve seen in Abu Dhabi, and with initiatives like the Jr. NBA, there’s no doubt this region can become a serious player in the basketball world down the line. This is how it begins.

What advice would you give to young players who dream of following in your footsteps and making it to the NBA one day?

My biggest advice is: don’t give up. Stay focused, stay persistent, and don’t take no for an answer. Use your resources, work hard, and believe in yourself. I came from a small town in Long Island — nothing was handed to me. If I could make it, so can you. And it’s not always about being the most talented or athletic — look at guys like Steph Curry or Steve Nash. They weren’t the biggest or fastest, but they perfected their craft. If you’re putting in the work while others are sleeping, you’re already ahead.

Gary Payton

You played the game with incredible passion and grit — how important is it for young Jr NBA players here in Abu Dhabi to develop that same mindset early?

You know, that kind of mindset — the hunger to compete and love the game — has to come from within. You can’t force it on anyone. Kids have to grow into it and decide for themselves how much they want it. What helps is putting them in a competitive environment. When they’re on the floor, going up against each other, something clicks. They start wanting to win, they feel that drive — and that’s when the mindset starts to form. My advice is not to push kids into something they don’t love. Instead, create the space for them to be challenged and discover that passion for themselves.

As someone who came through tough basketball environments, how do you view the impact of organized grassroots leagues like the Jr NBA on a young athlete’s life?

Leagues like the Jr. NBA are everything for these kids. We're dealing with a different generation now — one that needs more structure, more guidance. That’s why having an organized system like this is so important. It teaches them how to play the right way, how to grow as competitors, and how to adapt to the way the game is constantly evolving. You only get better when you play against the best — and programs like this bring that level of competition and structure to young players in countries around the world. It gives them something to strive for.

What has impressed you most about the talent or enthusiasm you’ve seen from the kids here in Abu Dhabi?

What stands out to me is their passion and willingness to learn. You can see it — they’re not just here to play for fun, a lot of them truly want to understand the game. And with the NBA bringing preseason games to the region and showing up in person, it’s helping these kids realize that this game is real, that it's something they can dream about and work toward. They watch these players on TV, use them on video games — and now they’re seeing them live, right here. That fuels their ambition. The skill level and potential I’ve seen here is impressive, and that’s why the NBA is investing in this region.

If you could give one piece of advice to the Jr NBA players today about chasing success both on and off the court, what would it be?

Honestly, my first piece of advice is about life off the court. Because the reality is, not everyone will make it to the NBA — and that’s the truth. So it’s about being well rounded. Focus on school, focus on your books. You can be successful in so many ways — not just through basketball. You can be great in business, in art, in anything you put your mind to. Basketball might not be the path life has planned for you, and that’s OK. But whatever you do, set goals and work hard, both on the court and off. Have something you’re striving for, no matter where life takes you.

DENVER: Russell Westbrook, whose late-game follies hung over the Denver Nuggets as they navigated the stunning dismissals of coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth on the eve of the playoffs, came up clutch against his former team in crunch time Saturday.
“That’s who he is,” Nikola Jokic said after watching Westbrook hit an uncontested corner 3-pointer to give Denver a two-point lead late in regulation and then knocking the inbounds pass away from — and off of — James Harden with 9.6 seconds left in overtime to help seal Denver’s 112-110 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
“I just know that (inbounds) play,” from being there the previous two seasons, Westbrook said.
Westbrook had plenty to do with L.A.’s whopping 20 turnovers, including an uncharacteristic seven from Kawhi Leonard.
“Russ is Russ,” interim coach David Adelman said after improving to 4-0. “Defensively, he’s absolutely incredible. He was playing free safety out there. I thought a lot of the reasons why the turnovers happened, even if it wasn’t him forcing it, (was) just the way he was roaming around and impacting the game.
“And then offensively ... he attacked,” Adelman said. “We maybe could have pulled it out and executed. But that’s what Russ does. I don’t think he’s going to change after 17 years. If he sees somebody in front of him 1-on-1, he’s going to attack. And then he made an enormous 3.”
Jokic scored 29 points and finished one rebound shy of a triple-double. Aaron Gordon added 25 points and Jamal Murray 21 as the Nuggets overcame a 15-point first-half deficit to power past the hottest team entering the playoffs.
The No. 5 seed Clippers’ loss was their first since March 30 at Cleveland. They rolled into the playoffs having won 18 of 21, including their last eight.
“If you turn over 20 times against the team that is No. 1 in offensive transition, then you’re gonna lose the game,” lamented Clippers coach Tyronn Lue.
Harden led the Clippers with 32 points. Leonard added 22 and Ivica Zubac had 21.
Leonard shrugged off the loss, saying the team’s mood was “still good. Just Game 1. You know, Denver’s a good team, especially at home. Still got Game 2.”
That’s Monday night at Ball Arena.
Adelman said the key to the late comeback was actually when Denver closed the second quarter on a 13-2 run to pull to 53-49 at halftime.
“It felt like one of those games where you’re just slowly crawling uphill,” Adelman said.
And Westbrook was leading the way, coming up big despite missing 12 of 17 shots overall.
“A lot of people put a lot of emphasis on missing so many shots,” Westbrook said. “But in the playoffs, all you need to do is just win the game. I don’t give a damn about how many shots you miss, make. Just make winning basketball plays defensively, offensively.”
And he did just that.