LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A group of 8- and 9-year-olds from the SOS Select basketball team took the court during halftime of the Lakers-Bulls NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center, part of a broader surge in youth basketball that is reshaping Las Vegas as a destination for young athletes.
Local team gets big-league moment
Graham Smith, 9, said he was looking forward to the opportunity before the game tipped off.
“I’m like a shooting guard, and I’m just looking forward to having an opportunity to play in front of a crowd at an NBA game and just having fun playing with my team at halftime,” Smith said.
The SOS Select players dribbled, shot, and scored in front of an NBA crowd during the halftime performance.
Las Vegas emerging as youth basketball destination
Coach Cameron McCoy said the growth of youth basketball participation in the Las Vegas area has been building alongside the expansion of the NBA Summer League and local tournaments.
“I’ve been coaching since I was 16, and honestly, as the game has been evolving — as the NBA Summer League and all these tournaments are coming out here — you just see the participation from the community and all these kids kind of showing up and being here,” McCoy said.
Major youth tournaments now bring thousands of players, coaches, and families to Southern Nevada. The growth has drawn attention from the NBA commissioner.
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Girls finding their place on the court
Girls are also participating in the youth basketball boom. Bella Shakurian, 9, a member of the SOS Select team, had a message for other girls considering the sport.
“I would say yeah, for sure. Like, just do what you want to do. Just do what you want to do,” Shakurian said.
McCoy said moments like the halftime performance carry meaning beyond the game itself.
“Oh, I mean, it’s just the motivation. It’s inspiring them, right? All these kids have dreams to grow up and be something one day, whether it’s basketball or something else. And honestly, just having those kinds of guys and that kind of talent in the community would be amazing to see,” McCoy said.
NBA Summer League schedule
Games are played at the Thomas & Mack Center (T&M) and the Michelob Ultra Arena (Pav) on the UNLV campus. All times Pacific.
Thursday, July 16
- Dallas vs. Oklahoma City — 1:00 PM, Thomas & Mack Center
- Brooklyn vs. Houston — 1:30 PM, Pav
- L.A. Lakers vs. Chicago — 3:00 PM, Thomas & Mack Center
- Golden State vs. New York — 4:00 PM, Pav
- Memphis vs. Atlanta — 5:00 PM, Thomas & Mack Center
- Toronto vs. Miami — 6:00 PM, Pav
- Portland vs. Denver — 7:00 PM, Thomas & Mack Center
Friday, July 17 — Placement games (teams TBD)
- 3:30 PM, Pav
- 4:00 PM, Thomas & Mack Center
- 5:30 PM, Pav
- 6:00 PM, Thomas & Mack Center
- 7:30 PM, Pav
- 8:00 PM, Thomas & Mack Center
Saturday, July 18 — Includes semifinal doubleheader (teams TBD)
- 1:30 PM, Thomas & Mack Center
- 2:00 PM, Pav
- 3:30 PM, Thomas & Mack Center
- 4:00 PM, Pav
- 5:30 PM, Thomas & Mack Center
- 6:00 PM, Pav
- 7:30 PM, Thomas & Mack Center
Sunday, July 19 — Championship day
- 1:30 PM, Thomas & Mack Center
- 3:30 PM, Thomas & Mack Center
- Championship Game — 6:00 PM, Thomas & Mack Center
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