NBA
The NBA has a long-standing history of working with the military as part of the Hoops for Troops program and its ongoing work with the USO to support service members around the globe. Since 2003, the NBA has called upon players and legends to visit with active-duty military at installations in Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Texas, Egypt and Ireland.
In 2017, Caron Butler, Sam Perkins, Bob Delaney and the WNBA’s Ivory Latta brought an all-star experience to Afghanistan. The tour included exciting activities like 3-point contests, dunk challenges, unit visits, a Hoops for Troops USO Town Hall, an All Star-themed USO viewing party and the first-ever Hoops for Troops USO basketball tournament. Check out the below video to see more from this tour.
Most recently, NBA legend Kevin Martin, coach Monty Williams and WNBA legend Ruthie Bolton embarked on a multi-day USO tour to three U.S. military installations in Kuwait as part of the NBA Cares Hoops for Troops program. In addition to visiting with service members and coaching them in a basketball game, the trio attended a USO NBA Finals viewing party at a USO center. Click through the gallery below to see Martin, Williams and Bolton in action.
Monty Williams, Ruthie Bolton, Kevin Martin pose at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait.
Ruthie Bolton smiles with service members.
Kevin Martin coaches service members.
Ruthie Bolton and Kevin Martin smile with service members.
Kevin Martin poses with a service member.
NBA coach Monty Williams smiles with a service member at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait.
Monty Williams, Ruthie Bolton, Kevin Martin pose at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait.
Ruthie Bolton takes a selfie with a service member.
Ruthie Bolton and Kevin Martin flex with service members.
Kevin Martin smiles while talking with service members.
Ruthie Bolton coaches service members.
Kevin Martin coaches service members.
Ruthie Bolton coaches service members.
Celebrity Connection
The 2017 trip marked the third USO tour for NBA legend Sam Perkins, who observed, “USO tours and NBA initiatives like this are so important to our men and women in uniform. They do more than just entertain them, they bring them a piece of home and let them know that America cares about them and hasn’t forgotten them.”SOCIAL MEDIA
Tell Our Service Members Thanks. Send Them a Message Today.
