JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Seventy-five Department
of Defense youth from various military installations here learned life lessons and basketball skills from NBA legend
Bruce Bowen and San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills during a Jr. NBA clinic at
Cole High School on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Oct. 19.
Bowen, an outstanding defensive player who earned three
championship rings with the San Antonio Spurs, and Mills worked out alongside
the young participants, demonstrating skills for offense and defense, and
bringing smiles to their faces.
“It’s a pleasure and an honor to be able to have an impact
on some of the kids of our military servicemen and women,” said Bowen.
Bowen has been active in community service, promoting
fitness for kids and families, in San Antonio since his days as a player from
2001-2009.
“I learned from (Spurs coach and U.S. Air Force Academy graduate)
Gregg Popovich … it’s better to help others, and everything else will come in
due time. When you have a chance to
impact a kid’s life, it’s fantastic.
They’re able to take things that you taught them and give it to others.
It’s kind of a circle of life so to speak, as far as the continuous giving
effort, especially in this great city of San Antonio,” Bowen said.
Mills, who has a 2014 NBA championship ring with the Spurs,
said he was thrilled to present the idea of lifelong fitness to the youth, and
spread joy through the sport of basketball.
“You can see how much fun the kids are having, and the
smiles on their faces,” Mills said. “It’s all about the young kids and having a
healthy lifestyle. That’s why I’m here today: to share the healthy choices that
I have made in my short career. These are the kids of the future, so being here
is a big deal for me.”
Bowen noted that basketball can teach valuable life lessons,
including the concept of resiliency.
“There are different times in the game of basketball where
you’re down by 10 with 2 minutes to go, and you start seeing the character of
some teams that aren’t prepared. I think with Gregg Popovich and the things
that he learned at the Air Force Academy … it’s not about being down and out in
those moments as long as there’s time on the clock.
“So you transfer that into our society today. Maybe you
didn’t start out so well during the first half of the school year. But you can
still finish up strong. Those are the little lessons that I think basketball
and other sports provide. When kids understand that all I have to do is my
best, that’s good stuff. That’s a good recipe for us to have something truly
special in life,” Bowen said.
The clinic was one of many held across the United States the
week of Oct. 19 to help the NBA tip off its expanded youth basketball
participation program. However, it was the only one scheduled at a military
installation during tip-off week, said Phaethon Bolton of NBA Social
Responsibility, who helped organize the event.
“All we’re doing is saying, ‘thanks for your parents’
serving’,” said NBA clinician Frank Lopez of Lakeland, Florida.
"My son, Jarvis, really enjoyed the interaction with new kids and the drills, but wished the clinic was longer. ... It's really
special (when players) choose the military community to volunteer their
time," said Jarvis Pettaway, a human resources
specialist at the Air Force Personnel Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.
The children of Chief Petty Officer Ferdinand Ajel, with the
Navy Recruiting District, San Antonio, said they enjoyed learning more about
playing defense. Alex, 13, Kalea, 11, and Noelani, 10, also said they had great
time.
“It was nice. Everyone was so enthusiastic about it,” said
Alex.
The Spurs mascot, the Coyote, and members of the dance
squad, the Silver Dancers, added to the fun, enthusiastic atmosphere.
Jr. NBA is a free program that allows any existing youth
basketball league to receive discounts on uniforms and other youth basketball
resources as well as access to Jr. NBA events and opportunities, including NBA
player/legend appearances, grant funding and professional development for
coaches. Leagues can be registered at http://jr.nba.com.
Registration opened on Oct. 19.
The NBA is promoting the Jr. NBA to installation leagues
as part of a Commitment to Service initiative between the NBA and Department of
Defense, which focuses on having athletes and servicemembers work together to
create a culture of service in their communities and promote healthy living,
successful life transitions and good leadership.
Air Force families can learn more about healthy living,
to include planning healthy meals and ways to get fit together at http://www.usaffitfamily.com