LeBron donates a new court to a recovering NOLA neighborhood.
New Orleans got a huge gift from some of the biggest names in basketball. LeBron James teamed up with Nike and the New Orleans Recreation Department to breathe new life into the hoops scene in the Big Easy. After the massive devastation the city has endured the All-Star basketball community has been reaching out to help restore both the spirit and the opportunities to the young people of the city.
LeBron and his LeBron James Family Foundation worked with Nike’s Let Me Play program to build a brand new yellow basketball court at the St Bernard Recreation Center made of nearly 6,000 pairs of recycled sneakers.
New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin was on hand for the occasion.
Rookie All-Star Kevin Durant, women’s pro basketball legend Lisa Leslie and Portland’s All-Star guard Brandon Roy joined in to run drills with young players form the neighborhood and to share their love of the game with hundreds of local students, families and fans.
DJ Clue came through to hype the crowd and to give away special Nike products.
KD gets schooled by the next generation.
LeBron shows the people why he’s King.
Lil Mama donated a hot performance to the event.
Since Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, Nike has donated over $7 million in product and cash to support the city and it’s residents. Nike launched the Let Me Play New Orleans program in 2007, donating $2 million in product, equipment and play surfaces as part of its rebuilding through sport effort. Nike’s five donated courts are located in Sam Bonart playground, Taylor Park, Stallings-Gentilly Park, and the St. Bernard Center. The 20,000 donated shoes needed to make these courts were collected at Nike retail locations across the country.
LeBron added an outdoor playground for youngsters.
More at Inside.Nikebasketball.com
LeBron gives back to the game in NYC >>
