NEWSLETTER
Joakim Noah continues to leave his mark on Chicago.
The Bulls legend officially announced the start of the “One City Basketball League” in Chicago. The initiative will bring together 28 violence prevention groups in the city. Young men from the age of 16 to 25 are eligible to participate. Not only will there be financial incentives for players, but there will be access to off-court programs, family services, and paid job opportunities, according to the information shared via Noah on Stadium.
“The city is divided in a lot of ways, and one of the ways to unify this city is through hoop. Just like we were talking about, some of my best friends to this day are from playing basketball,” Noah told Stadium’s Shams Charania. “That’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to unify this city, so we’re working with 28 violence prevention groups and we’re doing a big tournament. We’re unifying the city through this tournament and bringing in all the OGs. Obviously, the basketball is the way to bring them in, but the programs that come in after is the real peace work. I’m really proud of it.”
Noah, who also serves as a team ambassador for the Chicago Bulls organization, has long served as an active member of the Chicago community. He’s done a remarkable job demonstrating just how much good can come from the game of basketball, as he’s also been a key part of getting NBA Africa off the ground overseas.
Few Bulls players have given back to the city as much as Noah has, and I now look forward to seeing Noah’s new venture come together.
You can check out his full announcement here:
