Gotham Ballers to Tip Off Champions Basketball League on August 23 at NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Al Harrington to Compete with More Than 19 Former NBA Favorites in New Pro
Basketball League as the New York Gotham Ballers take on the Los Angeles SuperStars

NEW YORK, Aug. 16, 2017 -- The Champions Basketball League, a new professional basketball league made up of former NBA players, will tip-off its inaugural season when the New York Gotham Ballers take on the Los Angeles SuperStars at NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday, August 23 at 7 p.m.

Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster.com, http://www.nycblive.com/, or by calling 516-744-6310. Tickets are also available at the Ticketmaster Box Office at the Coliseum.

The game features five-on-five, full-court NBA regulation play during the summer, with 19 former NBA favorites, including Al Harrington and Daniel “Boobie” Gibson, going head-to-head. The event will include a pre-game youth shoot-around and post-game meet & greet, putting fans up close and personal with the players and the game they love.

“We’re thrilled to bring this great talent to Long Island, who are all former NBA players, have passion for the game, and have a fierce competitive spirit,” said Mark Aguirre, President of Basketball for Champions Basketball League. “We’re looking forward to our 2017 Showcase Season, which will make for great basketball and will introduce the league to fans in New York and across the country.”

Fan favorites will be a part of the game, including Al Harrington, Chris Copeland, Carlos Boozer, Daniel ‘Boobie’ Gibson, Raja Bell plus the New York front office, including Team President Walt “Clyde” Frazier, General Manager Earl Monroe, and Coach John Wallace.

The opening night event will feature a tip-off by New York Celebrity Owner Ice-T, a halftime concert by Dave East, in-game entertainment by radio personality DJ Clue, and game commentary provided by EBC Rucker Park legends Hannibal and Boobie Smooth.

Champions Basketball League games are designed with the fans and families in mind, with ticket pricing starting at just $10.00. Affordably priced, the games provide a fun, family-friendly game day experience with kids under 13 invited to participate in pre-game, on-court shoot-arounds with players. Games will also feature live performances, a DJ, and contests.

The league’s Showcase Season tips off with the inaugural game between the Gotham Ballers and the Los Angeles SuperStars, and will culminate in a championship tournament in Las Vegas, Sept. 28-30, followed by year-round play in charity exhibition games and youth clinics. In 2018, the league expects to expand to include up to 24 teams.

About Champions Basketball League
Champions Basketball League consists of former NBA players in competitive five-on-five basketball – as well as year-round charity events, camps and community-based programs – bringing fans closer to the action and to the players they love. The league, built for fans of the game, offers the opportunity to purchase shares of the teams, providing levels of increasingly robust sets of owner perks. For more information visit www.champshoops.com.

About the Gotham Ballers

The New York Gotham Ballers are a member of the Champions Basketball League. The Gotham Ballers front office includes NBA Champion and Hall of Famer Walt Frazier as team President, NBA Champion and Hall of Famer Earl Monroe as General Manager, and former New York Knicks player and Syracuse University standout John Wallace as Coach. With all athletes straight out of the NBA, these guys got game. Visit www.gothamballers.com.

Editor’s Note: Players are available on Tuesday, Aug. 22 for one-on-one interviews; complete access to team practices will be offered in the afternoon. Please contact us to reserve your spot, or to attend the game on Wednesday, Aug. 23.

Media Contact: 
New York Media Outlets
Matt Bretzius
[email protected]

National Media Outlets
Chris Botta
516-647-3755
[email protected]