NBA unveils America 250 plans to celebrate US anniversary through 2026

The NBA will honor the 250th anniversary of the United States throughout 2026 with a slate of on-court activations, volunteer programs and community events, the league announced in a news release Friday.

In partnership with America250, Stand Together, and Military250, the NBA will celebrate in various league-wide, team-driven activations, including media storytelling, community service projects and special event integrations across the NBA the league said.

Some of the league‑wide initiatives include players, coaches and basketball legends reflecting on what it means to be American, the significance of the country and its 250th birthday and how basketball plays a role in bringing U.S. citizens together.

Fans and viewers can expect to see a “America 250” broadcast as well as in-arena creative nods to celebrate the moment.

More: Trump to reportedly meet with sports commissioners about America 250 plans

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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

Oct. 26: The Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg dunks the ball past the Toronto Raptors’ Sandro Mamukelashvili at the American Airlines Center.

Oct. 26: The Washington Wizards’ Cam Whitmore dunks the ball against the Charlotte Hornets at Capital One Arena.

Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets’ Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.

Oct. 25: The Denver Nuggets’ Christian Braun dunks the ball against the Phoenix Suns’ Grayson Allen at Ball Arena.

Oct. 24: The Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. dunks against the Miami Heat at FedExForum.

Oct. 24: The Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo dunks over the Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. at FedExForum.

Oct. 22: The New York Knicks’ OG Anunoby goes up for a reverse dunk against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden.

Oct. 22: The Utah Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen dunks against the Los Angeles Clippers at Delta Center.

America’s 250th anniversary celebrated across sports landscape

The NBA is the latest league to announce its plans to honor the United States’ 250th birthday.

In December, President Trump announced part of his plans to host the very first Patriot Games in honor of the U.S. during its 250th anniversary. He said it’ll be “an unprecedented four-day athletic event” that will feature high school athletes across the country.

Trump also announced in June that he plans to host a UFC Fight Night on the lawn in front of the White House. The fight card is expected to feature eight or nine championship fighters.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which has 11 featured U.S. game sites including New York, Houston, Atlanta, Miami, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Seattle and Santa Clara of the San Francisco Bay Area, will coexist with American 250 celebrations.

The NFL said in November that the league will participate in honorary events and demonstrations for the U.S. 250th anniversary. The league plans to use special footballs with an “America 250” logo through the playoffs.

“The NFL is proud to participate in celebrating America’s 250th anniversary,” Goodell said in a news release. “The story of the NFL reflects the story of America, and the American spirit of resilience, innovation and teamwork has helped football grow into a cultural pastime that unites us all. We are excited to honor our country’s history and celebrate our collective future.”

There will be “America 250” signage stenciled on the sidelines and officials will use American 250-branded coins for the pregame and overtime coin toss. The coins will be later auctioned off for charity, according to a league news release.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA reveals league-wide plans to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary

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