Sixers Neighborhood Basketball League

The Sixers Neighborhood Basketball League (SNBL) is a youth recreation league conducted by the Philadelphia Department of Recreation. SNBL offers girls and boys an opportunity to participate in an organized basketball league at one of the 37 Department of Recreation facilities throughout Philadelphia.

Each season more than 5,000 youths compete in approximately 65 leagues from December to April. Each player receives an official SNBL T-shirt and participants are recognized at a 76ers home game. In addition, eight SNBL teams have the opprtunity to play on the 76ers home court prior to a game and halftime.

The Sixers Neighborhood Basketball League kicked off its 14th season in style, as honorary commissioners Andre Miller and Shavlik Randolph joined 76ers Ambassador of Basketball World B. Free and former Sixer and current radio analyst Todd MacCulloch at the Gustine Lake Recreation Center on Ridge Avenue for a special clinic.

Prior to the start of the event, the court was already filled with kids playing full-court basketball. Their energy impressed the Sixers contingent that watched from the sidelines.

"Sometimes we can forget why we play… it’s because we love the game," said Randolph. "Coming here and seeing these kids reminds you of that. Seeing how much these kids love to play for no other reason than because they love it is great."

Shortly after, Free and MacCulloch took center court and introduced Miller and Randolph to a collection of about 100 boys and girls of various ages. Both players echoed similar advice to the aspiring ball players.

"Continue to work hard and take care of your school work first," Miller said to the children. "Take advantage of opportunities like these, because I didn’t have them and be sure to thank your parents."

Miller grew up in South Central, Los Angeles. With strong support from his mother, Miller not only became a star athlete in both football and basketball, but was an honor roll student as well.

"I’m kind of living a dream playing in the NBA so spending time with them brings you back to reality," Miller said about meeting the kids. "Any time kids can have support from adults, it’s very important. It helps form their lives and they’ll remember it."

Randolph also stressed the importance of school to the kids as well as setting goals and working towards them.

"I had a lot of good people around me who always encouraged me to reach for the stars and that’s the message that I try to pass along," Randolph said. "Set your goals high and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it, because if they’re telling you that, it’s because they can’t do it and not because you can’t."

The Sixers Neighborhood Basketball League offers more than 5,000 girls and boys the opportunity to participate on basketball teams throughout 37 recreation centers across Philadelphia.

"You can see how excited the kids are to see the real players out here," said Leo Dignam, the league’s Program Director. "It gives the kids the chance to see how good these guys are and how they do things for their community. It shows the kids that it’s just not about basketball."