Three truss structures were erected to formulate the temporary courts

UK - London’s Trafalgar Square was transformed into the capital’s brightest basketball stage as the inaugural Jr NBA 3v3 Finals were held under the gaze of Nelson’s Column and the National Gallery, and featured 10 city secondary schools in an electrifying final. 

The tournament was held on Friday 6 June and operated by London Marathon Events (LME) in collaboration between the NBA and LME, designed to get more children across the capital playing basketball for boys, girls and wheelchair competitions.

The team at Henley Theatre Services (HTS) were appointed to construct the three separate NBA courts in the middle of Trafalgar Square for this prestigious one-day event, working in partnership with PopUpArena.

Three truss structures were erected to formulate the temporary courts, which consisted of two 18m x 15m courts built from 10m tall Prolyte towers (S52 and S40T) integrated with a Layher scaffold system sub-base, as well as one freestanding 10m x 10m court with 7.5m Milos towers (390L and 290V) structure and 100kg EXE Techology hoists.

With 3v3 basketball gaining Olympic recognition in 2021, this version of the sport has significantly grown in popularity, especially amongst schools due to its faster pace and smaller footprint, ideal for urban school settings.

NBA legend Ronny Turiaf, who formally played for Miami Heat, and the Philadelphia 76ers mascot, Franklin the Dog, were special guests at the London landmark, with the schools battling through knockout rounds looking to be crowned champions!

Courts one and two hosted 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 alongside wheelchair skills and coaching sessions. Court three welcomed 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.

Joe Morris, director of hire and production at Henley Theatre Services said: “It was an absolute pleasure to help deliver a project of this scale in such a prestigious location. As always it was great to work in partnership with PopUpArena to bring the concept to life. Thanks to the great products we are working with from Area Four Industries (Prolyte, EXE Technology and Milos), the end result looked great.”

The event also staged a range of basketball entertainment and activities throughout the day with free entry for the public. NBA’s chairman Ronny Turiaf handed out prizes and participated in a Q&A and autograph session, while Franklin the Dog mingled with the participants and fans. 

In the boys competition, Drayton Manor High School based in Ealing came out on top, whilst on the girls side it was Glenthorne High School, from Sutton that triumphed. Following the tournament, London’s top basketball content creators also took part in an NBA mixed elite 3v3 competition.

The tournament marked a pivotal moment in UK basketball with one third of London schools signing up to participate. The ceremony stage, live feeds and giant screens ensured a full broadcast of the action was screened across the square throughout the event, creating a great atmosphere for the crowds of visitors. 

The success of the finals sees London Marathon Events and the NBA aiming to expand the programme in the coming years with more initiatives and public engagement.


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