The magic of the NBA invaded the Kioene Arena in Padua today, transforming the Venetian capital into the epicenter of regional youth basketball. In an extraordinary audience setting, with over 1500 people including athletes, families and fans, the Draft Event of the 2025/2026 Jr. NBA Championship officially took place.
The event saw the participation of 149 clubs from all over the area, ready to kick off the new edition of what has now become the most coveted Under 13 tournament in Italy. During the morning, in an adrenaline-filled atmosphere similar to overseas ceremonies, each club was paired with one of the legendary NBA franchises. From next weekend, the young athletes will take to the field wearing the official jerseys of the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls and all the other stars of the American firmament.
The event also allowed all the teams to compete in shooting competitions and all the participants to experience a true “Draft within the Draft”: in fact, at the end of the pairings, three lucky winners were drawn by lot, including the first prize which included the awarding of the original Italian national team jersey to the NBA star, Simone Fontecchio.
The event was also attended by the sports councilor of the Municipality of Padua, Diego Bonavina, who sponsored the event, and all the staff of the Fip Veneto regional committee, led by the president Fabio Crivellaro, the vice president Flavio Camporese, the provincial presidents and the federal councilor, Marcello Crosara.
The Padua event marks the official start of a journey that will bring thousands of young people to live a unique sporting experience, feeling part of the most famous basketball league in the world for an entire season.
In the following sheet the specifications of the Jr. NBA Draft
THE CARD – THE DRAFT JR. NBA
Jor. Champion Champions of the U13 in the program of the National Basketball Association, supported by the Italian Basketball Federation which for years has allowed boys and girls from the Italian territory to wear one of the shirts of the 30 NBA franchises.
The Jr. NBA is now a reality in the calendar of activities of the Youth Sector: a championship that has managed to conquer the collective imagination for its ability to combine the healthy values of sport with the fun of the game and the pride of wearing the colors of the legendary NBA teams.
What will be staged will be the fourth edition of this championship which will transform all the teams in our region currently registered in the regional men’s Under 13, Gold and women’s championships to take to the field with the name and uniforms of an NBA team.
The tournament faithfully follows the structure of the US professional championship:
- Draft: The initial moment (celebrated today in Padua) in which teams are assigned to NBA franchises by drawing.
- Regular Season: A local phase divided into Division and Conference, where the clubs play with the official NBA name and uniforms provided directly by the American league.
- Playoffs and Final Event: The best teams from each region compete to reach the National Finals, where the legendary “Jr. NBA Ring” is up for grabs, a faithful replica of the one given to the NBA champions.
The clubs will be formally divided within one of the 49 Leagues that make up the championship. After the regional phase, the playoff phase is scheduled, from which the 16 participants (8 in the men’s and 8 in the women’s) will emerge at the Final Event, the final event in which they play for the conquest of the coveted Jr. NBA Ring.
