NBA All-Star Domantas Sabonis, WNBA legend Lauren Jackson headline Rising Stars event in S'pore
SINGAPORE – Three-time National Basketball Association All-Star Domantas Sabonis is looking forward to catching the budding basketball talent from Asia at the NBA Rising Stars Invitational tournament in Singapore later in June.
The Sacramento Kings centre said: 'I'm incredibly excited to be a part of the inaugural NBA Rising Stars Invitational in Singapore.
'Basketball is a global game, and I look forward to watching the next generation of Asia's top boys' and girls' players compete against their peers on this new stage.'
The 29-year-old Lithuanian is among the star-studded cast coming for the annual regional high-school tournament featuring Under-18 teams from 11 countries across the Asia-Pacific at the Kallang Tennis Hub from June 25 to 29.
Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) legend Lauren Jackson is also thrilled to be coming to Singapore.
The 44-year-old Australian star, whose 11-year stint with WNBA side Seattle Storm reaped two championships and three Most Valuable Player awards, said: 'Getting to travel to play the game is a blessing, and I'm thrilled to visit Singapore...'
Joining the duo at the event are Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro from the Phoenix Suns, and Keisei Tominaga from Japan's B.League.
Eight-time NBA All-Star and China's basketball legend Yao Ming will also be making special appearances, including at the opening ceremony on June 25.
Anglo-Chinese Junior College and Hwa Chong Institution, the National School Games A Division boys and girls' champions respectively, and United World College South-east Asia (Dover Road), will represent Singapore at the tournament.
The other teams will come from Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, South Korea and Thailand.
Top players at the tournament will be given the chance to attend future NBA development camps, showcases and programmes.
The event will also features live entertainment, including performances by the Lakers Girls, the dance team from the Los Angeles Lakers, and Miami Heat mascot Burnie.
The invitational tournament is one of the initiatives of NBA's multi-year collaboration with Sport Singapore and the Singapore Tourism Board.
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