London’s iconic Trafalgar Square will transform into a high-energy celebration of basketball on Friday 6 June, with the electrifying finale of the brand-new Jr. NBA 3v3 tournament taking centre stage.
It will be the first time that Trafalgar Square has hosted a basketball tournament, with NBA legend Ronny Turiaf and the Philadelphia 76ers mascot, Franklin the Dog, the special guests on a historic day at the London landmark. The tournament operated by London Marathon Events (LME) is the culmination of a new collaboration between the NBA and LME designed to get more children across the capital playing basketball.
The focus will be on the thrilling 3v3 version of the sport, which is growing in popularity. Two courts will be created in Trafalgar Square for the quick-fire games that are played on courts half the size of a traditional basketball court using a single hoop and a 12-second shot clock.
Children from secondary schools across London have been competing since the start of the year to make it to the Jr. NBA 3v3 Finals with 10 schools coming to Trafalgar Square from across the capital looking to be crowned champions in boys’ and girls’ categories.
Following the teenagers on court will be a selection of London’s top basketball content creators who will be taking part in NBA 3X, a mixed elite 3v3 competition held on Court 1 in front of the National Gallery. A Dunk Contest will round off the day. Register for free tickets for NBA 3X on the NBA site.
The show courts will also host wheelchair skills and coaching sessions, and a third court will welcome selected primary school children from London schools to play at the world-famous location and be taught 3v3 by members of the NBA’s Basketball Operations team. There will be basketball entertainment and activities for participants and visitors throughout the day. Entry is free.
Turiaf, NBA Champion with the Miami Heat in 2012, will be handing out prizes and taking part in Q&A and autograph sessions throughout the day, while Franklin will be engaging with participants and fans.
Hugh Brasher, CEO of London Marathon Events, said: “Our objective at London Marathon Events is to inspire more people to be active and what can be more inspirational than the first-ever basketball tournament to be hosted at London’s historic Trafalgar Square? Basketball is already the second most popular team sport in the UK but through our work with the NBA we want to provide a platform for even more children and young people to have access to it. Friday’s Jr. NBA 3v3 Finals will be spectacular but it is the culmination of a much bigger programme of work in schools that we are excited to grow even further alongside the NBA in the years to come.”
Jr. NBA 3v3 is supported by the Mayor of London’s Office, and the Deputy Mayor of London, Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, will be attending the Finals, which brings to a close the first year of the new initiative.
The event was launched at the start of 2025 with the ambition to drive participation and excellence in basketball in UK primary and secondary schools. Since January, one in three secondary schools in London have signed up and more than a third of sign-ups have been girls’ teams.
Those teams include Hendon School, in Barnet, Glenthorne High School, in Sutton, Brampton Manor Academy, in Newham, Lampton School, in Hounslow, and Lilian Baylis Technology School, in Lambeth. On the boys’ side of the draw are St Ignatius College, in Enfield, the Kingston Academy, in Richmond, Beths Grammar School, in Bexley, Drayton Manor High School, in Ealing, and Overton Grange School, in Sutton.
The Jr. NBA 3v3 Finals will start at 9:15 with the boys’ competition, culminating in the final on Court 1 at 11:15. The girls’ tournament will follow, with the final on Court 1 at 14:45. Both finals will be followed by trophy presentations.
NBA 3X will start at 17:00, with semi-finals taking place at 18:15 before the final (scheduled for 18:38) and a trophy presentation. The event will finish at 19:00.