NBA legend Mitch Richmond along with NBA coaches paid a visit to Lou Hau High School (澳門勞校中學) in Fai Chi Kei (筷子基) yesterday for a youth basketball exchange as the first event of “NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week”, with the former pro basketball player greeted with loud cheers as he entered the venue.
A six-time NBA All-Star, Richmond competed in the NBA from 1988 to 2002, playing for the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Washington Wizards, and the Los Angeles Lakers during his career. He was also five-time All-NBA Team member and a former NBA Rookie of the Year, among other accolades, and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014.
Yesterday’s event, which opened with a basketball dance performance by the school’s kindergarteners, saw Richmond and an NBA coach train students during a basketball clinic, with the youngsters following various drills before playing three friendly five-a-side matches.
Moreover, the NBA and Sands China donated basketballs and training equipment to the school, with Richmond and Sands China Executive Vice Chairman Wilfred Wong Ying-wai presenting them.
A statement provided by the integrated resort operator yesterday quoted Wong as saying: “We are delighted to see the youths’ passion and potential for basketball. We will continue to promote community sport exchanges, providing a platform to inspire the dreams of young sports enthusiasts in Macau and injecting long-term momentum into the development of local sports.”
Lou Hau High School Principal Cheang Kit Chio was also quoted as saying that the event gave students “a rare opportunity to witness the athletic excellence of world-class athletes up close and deeply experience the positive impact of major sporting events on the community”, as well as gained “invaluable insights and rich rewards”.
A student who participated in the event also said in the statement: “I’m thrilled to have taken part in this basketball exchange and to interact closely with an NBA legend. It helped me truly understand the elite skills and mental qualities required of international-level basketball players”.
In all, yesterday’s event was attended by around 240 people.
Mitch Richmond and an NBA coach give a demonstration to students during yesterday’s youth basketball exchange at Lou Hau High School (澳門勞校中學) in Fai Chi Kei (筷子基).
Kindergarteners deliver a basketball dance performance at Lou Hau High School yesterday afternoon.
Mitch Richmond looks on as one of the five-a-side friendlies take place.
