The Luka Doncic Foundation marked World Basketball Day by announcing a series of initiatives designed to make youth sports more accessible and enjoyable worldwide. The nonprofit, created in 2024 by Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic, said the new programs build on its first year of work aimed at keeping children engaged in athletics.
“These initiatives are helping us lay the groundwork for a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive through sports, regardless of their background or circumstance,” Foundation chief executive Lara Beth Seager said in a statement.
Total Hoops Curriculum
Central to the plan is the Total Hoops Curriculum, a pilot coaching model that encourages free play and accepts mistakes as part of learning. To test the approach, the Foundation will team up with the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA to run a clinic during NBA All-Star 2026. One hundred athletes ages 9–15 from the Los Angeles area will train under coaches certified in the “Total Hoops Approach.”
Global Athlete Support Program
This spring, the Foundation will open grant applications for athletes ages 12–15 in the United States, the United Kingdom, China (PRC), France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia. The financial assistance is intended to remove obstacles that keep young people from participating in any sport.
Beyond the curriculum and grants, the organization said it is examining how youth basketball systems operate and where they fall short, with the goal of recommending improvements.
“If we can continue providing opportunities to young athletes and making sports more accessible and fun, I’ll know we did something right,” Doncic said.
Seasonal Gesture
In a separate show of generosity, the Lakers guard recently purchased e-bikes for teammates and staff members as a holiday gift, underscoring his broader commitment to supporting those around him.
According to the Foundation, World Basketball Day celebrates the joy, connection and sense of belonging the sport provides—principles that guide each of the new partnerships and programs.
Source: Lakers Nation
