Qatar
Building the Future of Youth Basketball in Qatar: Jr. NBA Enters Its Third Season
Exclusive interview with Mr. Alexandru Rosca, Sport Community Activation, Qatar Foundation
As basketball continues to gain momentum in Qatar, the Jr. NBA programme is emerging as an important platform for nurturing young talent, encouraging active lifestyles and strengthening the country’s grassroots sporting ecosystem. Now in its third season, the initiative, led by Qatar Foundation in collaboration with the NBA and a network of strategic partners, has expanded significantly since its launch in 2024, growing from 30 teams in its inaugural season to 80 teams this year.
With the introduction of new age categories, including U16 and a dedicated U12 school category, the programme is creating more opportunities for boys and girls to experience competitive basketball while developing essential life skills such as teamwork, leadership, discipline and sportsmanship.
It has been an incredible journey. Bringing Jr. NBA to Qatar took time, but since launching its first season in 2024, we have seen the programme grow significantly.
We started with 30 teams in one age category, U14, comprising 20 boys’ teams and 10 girls’ teams. In Season 2, the league expanded to 68 teams with the addition of the U12 category. This year, we have taken another major step by introducing U16 and a dedicated U12 school category, creating even more opportunities for young players to participate and develop, with a total of 80 teams registered.
For me, however, the most important development is not just the numbers. It is seeing the growing interest among young players, schools, academies, coaches and families, and witnessing Jr. NBA becoming an important fixture on Qatar’s youth basketball calendar.
From a Sport Community Activation perspective at Qatar Foundation, this is exactly what we want to achieve: programmes that bring communities together, create pathways for participation and support the wider QF sport ecosystem.
2. What are the main objectives of the Jr. NBA initiative, and how does it contribute to promoting basketball and an active lifestyle among children and young people in Qatar?
Our objective goes far beyond organising a basketball league. We want to create a pathway that encourages young people to play regularly, develop their skills and enjoy an active lifestyle, while strengthening the grassroots basketball ecosystem in Qatar.
Jr. NBA provides young participants with a genuine league experience, from the draft to structured competition, development opportunities and ultimately the finals. With U12, U14 and U16 categories, we are creating a pathway through which young players can continue developing as they grow.
For Qatar Foundation, basketball is also part of a much wider commitment to sport and active living. Through our programmes, venues and collaborations, we aim to create opportunities for communities to participate in sport, both within Education City and through our growing network of partnerships and activities across Qatar.
Together with the NBA, Qatar Basketball Federation, Qatar Sports Investments and our wider network of partners, we want to continue providing young people with opportunities to play, develop and stay active.
The growth has been very clear. We have progressed from 30 teams in Season 1 to 68 in Season 2, and now 80 teams in Season 3. The programme has also expanded its development pathway across U12, U14 and U16, including a dedicated school component.
Equally encouraging is the diversity of involvement. We are seeing schools, academies, coaches, families and young players becoming increasingly engaged with the programme.
For me, this growing interest is one of the strongest indicators of success. It demonstrates that we are not simply delivering a sporting event; we are building a community around youth basketball.
4. Beyond teaching basketball skills, what key values does the programme seek to instil in young participants, particularly in terms of teamwork, leadership, discipline and sportsmanship?
Basketball is the vehicle, but youth development is the bigger objective.
Through Jr. NBA and our wider community sport programmes, we want young people to develop teamwork, leadership, discipline, confidence, respect and sportsmanship. Our messaging for Season 3 specifically emphasises teamwork, leadership and sportsmanship as important elements of the programme.
We also support the wider basketball ecosystem through different development activities, including school clinics and opportunities for coaches and referees.
For me, that is what makes programmes like Jr. NBA so valuable. We are not only developing basketball players; we are using sport as a platform to develop young people.
5. How does Qatar Foundation, in collaboration with the NBA, ensure that the programme provides an inclusive and accessible sporting environment for children from different backgrounds and abilities?
First, it is important to recognise that this is a collective effort. We are fortunate to work with the NBA, Qatar Basketball Federation, Qatar Sports Investments, schools, academies and many other collaborators who share our ambition of developing basketball and creating opportunities for young people.
We also have an important role in supporting the wider QF sport ecosystem. We do not work in isolation. We collaborate with QF entities, national federations, schools, academies and strategic partners to connect programmes with the communities they are intended to serve.
Importantly, this approach goes beyond a single programme or location. Through QF’s programmes, venues and collaborations, we want to increasingly bring sporting opportunities closer to communities across Qatar.
Jr. NBA is an excellent example of what can happen when an ecosystem comes together around a common objective: developing young people and growing the game.
6. What have been the most notable achievements or highlights of this season so far?
For me, the biggest highlight has been the level of engagement.
Seeing young players return every week, represent their teams, involve their families and take the competition seriously demonstrates that the programme is establishing its place within the basketball community.
Season 3 has also broadened the development pathway through the introduction of U16 and a dedicated U12 school category, giving more young people opportunities to participate.
That is the community impact we are working to create.
7. The finals are scheduled for November 14. What can participants, families and basketball fans expect from this year’s final event?
This year's finals programme will be a two-day celebration of basketball, competition and community, taking place on November 13 and 14 in Education City.
The programme begins on November 13 with the U14 and U16 boys’ and girls’ semi-finals, alongside skills and shooting challenges.
On November 14, the schedule will feature the U12, U14 and U16 finals and third-place games, followed by closing activities and the presentation of runner-up awards and Jr. NBA rings to the championship teams.
It is much more than a final game. We want these two days to celebrate the players, their development, their families and the basketball community that has grown around the programme.
Most importantly, I want the young players to enjoy the experience. Of course, everyone wants to win, but they should also remember the friendships, experiences and memories they have created throughout the season.
8. What message would you like to share with parents and young people who may be interested in joining future editions of the Jr. NBA programme?
My message is very simple: come and be part of it.
I encourage parents to give their sons and daughters the opportunity to participate in basketball and sport, whether through Qatar Foundation programmes, Qatar Basketball Federation, schools, clubs, academies or the many other organisations supporting the development of sport in Qatar.
At QF, our commitment to Sport Community Activation is about creating more opportunities for people to participate and supporting the wider sporting ecosystem through programmes, venues and partnerships.
Sport gives young people much more than technical ability. It builds confidence, creates friendships, teaches discipline and teamwork, and encourages healthy habits that can stay with them throughout their lives.
And to young people, I would say: you do not need to be a great basketball player to start. You simply need to start.
Come, play, learn, enjoy the experience and see where the journey can take you. Qatar offers young people some amazing sporting opportunities, and we want them to make the most of them.
9. Looking ahead, how does Qatar Foundation envision the future of the Jr. NBA programme, and are there plans to expand its reach and introduce further opportunities for young basketball players in Qatar?
Absolutely. For us, Jr. NBA is not a standalone event. It is part of a much wider basketball development journey.
Together with our partners, we want to continue expanding opportunities for young players, schools, academies, coaches and referees. We already see the programme extending beyond league competition into school engagement and development opportunities for coaches and officials.
But our ambition goes further.
From a Sport Community Activation perspective, we want to continue connecting programmes, venues, partners and communities, while supporting the wider QF sport ecosystem and creating more opportunities for participation.
Major sporting events can provide incredible moments of inspiration, particularly as Qatar continues its sporting journey. However, for us, the real legacy is what remains within the community afterwards: more young people participating, stronger development pathways, increased opportunities for girls and boys, better-supported coaches and referees, and more active communities.
Jr. NBA is an important part of that journey, and together with our partners, we believe there is much more to come.
A lasting legacy beyond the court
As Jr. NBA enters its third season, its expansion reflects more than the growing popularity of basketball in Qatar. It highlights the importance of sustained investment in grassroots sport, accessible participation and opportunities for young people to develop both as athletes and individuals.
Through its collaboration with the NBA and national sporting partners, Qatar Foundation is helping create an environment in which the next generation can discover their potential, build meaningful connections and embrace healthier, more active lifestyles.
Ultimately, the success of Jr. NBA will be measured not only by the number of teams competing or the trophies awarded, but by the young people it inspires to keep playing, learning and contributing to their communities long after the final whistle. As Rosca emphasises, the ambition is not simply to grow basketball, but to use sport as a lasting force for community development and positive change in Qatar.