National Basketball Association (NBA)

Two teams remain! The NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV tip off tonight! The Boston Celtics go head-to-head against the Dallas Mavericks for the prestigious Larry O'Brien Trophy 🏆 Watch Game 1 tonight at 8:30 PM ET on ABC Who are you rooting for?

BAL has crowned their champion! 👑 This past weekend, Angola’s Petro de Luanda defeated Libya’s Al Ahly Ly 107-94 to win the 2024 Basketball Africa League, becoming the first Sub-Saharan African team to win a BAL championship. The game was played in Kigali, Rwanda and reached fans in 214 countries and territories in 17 languages. The BAL has grown immensely since its inaugural season in 2021. In its fourth season this year, the league expanded to 48 games and played games in four different countries, leading to a record 120,000+ fans attending games!

The NBA Finals are set! 🏆 After the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals, Kyrie Irving shared advice to his younger teammates after the win: "Nothing's guaranteed in this league, especially making it to the Finals every year, we couldn't have done it without a collective responsibility." Irving has established himself as a strong veteran presence for Dallas, averaging 25.6 PPG while exemplifying invaluable #leadership on and off the court. The #NBAFinals presented by YouTube TV tip off Thursday, June 6 at 8:30 PM ET on ABC.

Last week, the NBA Foundation tipped off its third annual NBA HBCU Fellowship, hosting 70 HBCU fellows from 22 schools for a three-day orientation. The orientation included professional development sessions, panels with Fellowship Alumni, an #NBAPlayoffs Watch Party, Business of Basketball Luncheon and more. The tip-off event consisted of a networking session with more than 50 current NBA employees from several departments sharing career insights. Fellows received professional advice in preparation for their 10-week internships with Teams and at the league office. To learn more about the NBA Foundation and the HBCU Fellowship visit https://lnkd.in/g-SBXBAj and follow @NBAFoundation on Instagram, Facebook, and X

Bill Walton, whose legacy extends far past his MVP, 2x NBA Championships and Hall of Fame career, passed at the age of 71 this week. His enthusiasm and passion made him one of basketball's great ambassadors: "Being a part of the NBA family is so special." A zest for life with an upbeat presence, always ready to share his wisdom and warmth - Walton was a giant figure on and off the court. That impact will undoubtedly live on forever.

The NBA is proud to further our commitment to mental health by partnering with the “Love, Your Mind” campaign from HMHI and The Advertising Council – together with leading sports leagues and organizations from across the country – to encourage fans everywhere to prioritize their mental health. For free mental health resources, visit https://lnkd.in/g5Vkhmqy #LoveYourMind #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth

We're wrapping up our #AAPI Heritage Month spotlights with David Lee, Head of NBA Equity, sharing his personal experiences as an AAPI business leader. Check out the full interview below. Describe Your Role I lead NBA Equity, the NBA's corporate venture arm. This new initiative, now in its third year, is focused on making strategic investments into exciting companies that help innovate the league and augment fan experiences. What does being an AAPI employee at the #NBA mean to you? As someone who grew up as a huge NBA fan, I always yearned for AAPI representation in the league. While my basketball skills didn't pave the way for me to be that representation on the court, I am immensely proud to have emerged as an AAPI leader in the business realm. I hope I can inspire some young AAPI sports enthusiasts with my journey and make them see that you don’t have to be drafted in the first round to make an impact in the league! In what ways has your AAPI background influenced your approach and demeanor in the workplace? My AAPI heritage, with its emphasis on humility and modesty, has shaped my foundational approach to the workplace. However, I've learned throughout my career that this demeanor may not always be the most effective at work, so I've consciously tried to assert myself and advocate for what I believe is right; I think finding the right balance is key. What is your fondest AAPI memory? As a lifelong NBA fan living in New York, #Linsanity is my best AAPI-related memory - those two months were magical! Another one is when Parasite won Best Picture at the Oscars - I am a huge fan of the Director, Bong Joon-Ho and was so proud of the movie becoming the first non-English-language film to win such a big award.

"It's really all about them. They let us coach them. They allow us to push them. They listen to us and they set the temperature of the organization every single day." Coach Joe Mazzulla said this about his players after the Celtics received the Bob Cousy Trophy as the 2023-24 Eastern Conference Champions. 🏆 Mazzulla is now the youngest coach to lead a team to NBA Finals since Bill Russell won the title with the Celtics in 1969. Celtics now look ahead to the NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV, tipping off Thursday, June 6 at 8:30 PM ET on ABC. #NBAPlayoffs #NBA (edited) 

The #NBA has had a jam-packed month full of celebrations for Asian American and Pacific Islander (#AAPI) Heritage Month. Check out what's been happening throughout the month of May! https://lnkd.in/ekHtYAwR We're hiring! Check out open roles and join the NBA family: https://careers.nba.com/

This week, our #AAPIMonth features Tiffany Lau AIA, sharing insightful perspectives as an AAPI employee in the sports and construction industries. Read the full interview below: Describe Your Role I am part of the #NBA Facilities/Venues team, and we work closely with all NBA arenas to facilitate the league’s compliance process and standards for new arenas, renovations, and building operations. I also lead the league’s arena sustainability program, where I help to develop resources for NBA venues to progress their sustainability goals. What does being an #AAPI employee at the NBA mean to you? AAPI women are generally underrepresented in both the sports and construction industries, so I don't often encounter people like me in my area of work. I am proud of the AAPI community at the NBA, who may also be underrepresented in their areas of work but have earned a seat at their table and inspired possibilities for the AAPI community by taking the road less traveled and following their passion into sports. In what ways has your AAPI background influenced your approach and demeanor in the workplace? My parents immigrated from Hong Kong and worked multiple jobs to not only support themselves in a new country, but as the eldest and second eldest children of large families, helped to take care of their siblings, long before my brother and me. Through their humble dedication to family, I learned about work ethic, teamwork and leadership. They saw the growth and achievements of their family and empowering and uplifting others as part of their own success. While adapting to a new country, they were also collaborative and empathetic to other people's perspectives. I value the same approach to teamwork and leadership and it is what I continue to strive for in the workplace. What is your fondest AAPI memory? I love all the large hot pot meals that I’ve had with my family and friends, especially the ones we prepare for each other. It’s usually so much food that we end up having hot pot for days! It always brings everyone together and I love that feeling of community. #aapimonth #aapi #nba #community