National Basketball Retired Players Association

The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) is a non-profit association composed of former professional basketball players of the NBA, ABA, Harlem Globetrotters, and WNBA.[1] It was founded in 1992 by NBA Hall of Famers Dave DeBusschere, Dave Bing, Dave Cowens, Oscar Robertson and former NBA point guard Archie Clark. Also referred to as the Legends of Basketball, the NBRPA serves as the official alumni organization for the NBA, ABA, Harlem Globetrotters, and WNBA.[2] The NBRPA was founded in New York City and is currently headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, while also having chapters located throughout the United States in Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando, and Phoenix.

National Basketball Retired Players Association
AbbreviationNBRPA
Formation1992
FounderDave DeBusschere, Dave Bing, Dave Cowens, Oscar Robertson and Archie Clark
Founded atNew York City
TypeCharitable 501 (c)3 non-profit organization
HeadquartersChicago, Illinois
LeaderScott Rochelle

Overview

The National Basketball Retired Players Association is a charitable 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is supported by the NBA and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA).[3][4] The NBRPA seeks to assist former NBA, WNBA, ABA and Harlem Globetrotters players with their transition away from their careers as professional athletes. Additionally, the NBRPA works to positively impact communities and youth through basketball and mentorship.[5][6] In 2012, the Retired Players Association moved its headquarters to Chicago after 20 years in New York City.

Leadership

Board of directors

The NBRPA is governed by a board of directors consisting exclusively of former professional basketball players that are elected by their peers

Executive

Scott Rochelle is the current President & CEO of the National Basketball Retired Players Association.

Ambassador & Spokesperson

In August 2014, the National Basketball Retired Players Association named Jalen Rose as their official Ambassador and Spokesperson.[7] Within this role, Rose will shape programs for former players while recruiting and enlisting the help of younger NBA players.[8]

Membership

The NBRPA's membership consists of over 1,000 former professional basketball players, featuring 70 NBA Hall of Famers and 41 of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players. Members include Michael Jordan, Julius Erving and Magic Johnson.[9]

WNBA Inclusion

On August 6, 2013, the NBRPA announced its inaugural class of former WNBA players as NBRPA members after a historic vote by its board of directors.[10] The NBRPA announced Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, Nikki McCray, Carla McGhee, Dawn Staley, Sheryl Swoopes, Penny Toler, and Teresa Weatherspoon as the inaugural class of former WNBA players as NBRPA Members.[11]

Legends Care

Legends Care is an initiative of the NBRPA that positively impacts communities and youth through basketball. NBRPA Legends give back through clinics, mentoring, charitable outreach and other grassroots initiatives in the United States and abroad with the goal of educating, inspiring and keeping youth active, healthy and safe.

Community/Youth Initiatives
  • Legends HBCU Scholarship - The Legends HBCU Scholarship is a scholarship fund and scholars program for undergraduates attending HBCUs. Legends Scholars will receive a $10,000 scholarship in recognition of their academic excellence and desire to positively impact the world.
  • Full Court Press: Prep for Success - Full Court Press: Prep for Success is a one-day youth basketball and mentoring clinic for underserved boys and girls, ages eight to 18, held in cities across the United States and abroad. The program is led by the NBRPA with direct support from the NBA and housed under the Jr. NBA and NBA Cares brand. Full Court Press is designed to introduce participating youth to positive role models in both basketball and life, with equal time spent on the basketball court, in the classroom and at a mentoring roundtable as part of a robust and meaningful curriculum.
  • BACK2BACK - BACK2BACK prepares elementary students for the upcoming school year by providing them with brand new backpacks filled with essential back to school supplies.
  • Legends Girl Chat - Legends Girl Chat is a virtual Legends Care program consisting of one-hour video conversations between high school girls and WNBA Legends. Partnering with the NBRPA on Legends Girl Chat is Girls Inc. Through this Legends Care partnership, all 78 affiliates of Girls Inc. are able to schedule a Legends Girl Chat to incorporate into their programming.
  • Legends Home Courts - Through the Legends Home Courts program, monetary grants are given to community groups for the renovation of outdoor basketball courts.
  • Thanksgiving Community Assist - The Thanksgiving Community Assist is an annual Legends Care program through which families in need receive a Thanksgiving turkey and holiday cheer from the Legends of Basketball.

International Goodwill Missions

As part of the NBRPA's global mission to give back, a group of Legends and NBRPA staff embark on annual goodwill missions to international destinations, such as Haiti, Panama, South Africa, and China, using basketball as a vehicle to impact children.

Dave DeBusschere Scholarship Program

Created in 2009, the NBRPA's Dave DeBusschere Scholarship provides member Legends, their spouses and/or children with academic scholarships for higher education purposes. The NBRPA has awarded more than $1.5 million to over 500 recipients at 465 colleges/universities through the Dave DeBusschere Scholarship Program and continues to grow with each new year.[12]

References
  1. "PAFI Announces NBRPA Legends World Sports Conference as the next Outreach Event - PAFI". Archived from the original on 2014-09-08. Retrieved 2014-09-05.
  2. "Subscription Center - ChicagoBusiness.com". 28 November 2012. Retrieved 2014-09-05.
  3. "NBPA hires Michelle Roberts as new executive director - FOX Sports". Retrieved 2014-09-05.
  4. "LaRue Martin, Antoine Walker Show Value Of, Need For NBRPA « NBA.com - Hang Time Blog with Sekou Smith". Retrieved 2014-09-05.
  5. Ballhaus, Rebecca (21 July 2014). "NBA, Others Aid Obama-Backed Program for Black and Latino Youth - Washington Wire - WSJ". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2014-09-05.
  6. "Basketball Pros "Press" Queens Kids to Prep for Success - NY1". queens.ny1.com. Archived from the original on 5 September 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  7. "Jalen Rose named ambassador for Retired Players Association - NBA - SI.com". Retrieved 2014-09-05.
  8. "Jalen Rose adds 'ambassador' duties, seeks to bond current, retired players « NBA.com - Hang Time Blog with Sekou Smith". Retrieved 2014-09-05.
  9. "Subscription Center - ChicagoBusiness.com". 28 November 2012. Retrieved 2014-09-05.
  10. "espnW -- Teresa Weatherspoon breaks ground in retired players' association - ESPN". 25 July 2013. Retrieved 2014-09-05.
  11. "WNBA.com: National Basketball Retired Players Association Announces Inaugural Class of Former WNBA Players". Retrieved 2014-09-05.
  12. "Dave DeBusschere Scholarship Fund". 26 January 2012.
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