#USA #Dallas #Youth Sports #Luka Dončić Foundation #Basketball

Luka Dončić Foundation Launches to Transform Youth Sports Experience

Luka Dončić, renowned guard for the Dallas Mavericks and captain of the Slovenian national basketball team, is officially launching the Luka Dončić Foundation on December 21, coinciding with World Basketball Day. The foundation seeks to ensure youth sports serve as a joyful and enriching force in children's lives around the world.

Having personally experienced the profound impact of sports during his youth, Dončić is committed to creating opportunities for future generations to experience the joy and transformative power of athletics. The foundation's launch is accompanied by a comprehensive report titled "Inside Youth Basketball" and new training principles known as the "Total Hoops Approach."

Aiming to revitalize youth basketball and various sports, the foundation's research studies youth basketball systems in the U.S. and Europe, especially in regions that have produced some of the world's best players. The findings reveal unique strengths within the basketball systems while noting a concerning trend: the diminishing joy, creativity, and discovery associated with the game. Alarming statistics from the American Academy of Pediatrics indicate that up to 70% of young athletes leave sports by age 13, thus prompting the foundation's launch of the Total Hoops Approach — a bold initiative to transform youth basketball into a sport that's accessible, enjoyable, and focused on positive youth development.

"Basketball has been a joy in my life since day one. I still feel the same excitement as when I was younger. When I'm out on the court having fun, I feel that the ball smiles back at me," said Dončić. "I want youth around the world to have the same chance to experience this joy. In sports, children should learn safely, grow, laugh, make mistakes, and ultimately just have fun, which is why I am founding this foundation and assembling an amazing team to guide our work."

The findings from the comprehensive study and details about the Total Hoops Approach will be revealed in the report "Inside Youth Basketball," which will be officially released on December 21 at lukadoncicfoundation.org. The report is based on interviews with basketball innovators, in-depth discussions with players, coaches, and parents, as well as survey responses and personal visits to basketball camps and training centers. It outlines both promising strengths worth emulating and issues that need to be addressed. This report is merely one foundation for the foundation's vision — to promote a positive culture of youth sports worldwide.

The foundation will be introduced during a Mavericks game against the Clippers on World Basketball Day. Dončić has invited 750 children representing various organizations from the Dallas area, including Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star, and others. The foundation will be presented to all fans in attendance and invites them to join in the mission.

To guide its activities, a Youth Sports Leadership Council will provide oversight, composed of athletes and advocates including current and former professional athletes and recognized coaches who seek to enact positive change in youth sports globally. This council will work with the foundation to advocate for the Total Hoops Approach within the basketball community and beyond.

Initial members of the council include:

• - Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors guard and CEO of Thirty Ink
• - Bill Duffy, senior partner and head of basketball at WME
• - Pau Gasol, president of the Gasol Foundation
• - Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty guard and founder of SI20 Foundation
• - Igor Kokoškov, assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks
• - Steve Nash, founder of The Steve Nash Foundation
• - Dirk Nowitzki, entrepreneur and philanthropist
• - Tracy McGrady, entrepreneur and former NBA star

Stephen Curry stated, "I’m honored to be part of Luka’s Youth Sports Leadership Council. Luka’s commitment reaches beyond local levels; he helps children and families in need from Dallas to Slovenia. We're aligned in our mission to improve children’s health and well-being through sports. Together, we can create spaces for kids to be active and engage in sports."

With support from organizations like the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), NBA, and Gatorade, the Luka Dončić Foundation will kickstart initiatives prioritizing youth development, wellness, and education within sports, positively impacting young athletes worldwide. Dončić is personally contributing over $2.5 million to the foundation.

Interested parties can find further information about the Luka Dončić Foundation, the report "Inside Youth Basketball," and the Total Hoops Approach by visiting lukadoncicfoundation.org or following updates on Instagram @lukadoncicfoundation.