LOS ANGELES, Calif. (June 10, 2022) – For the first time in pro-am basketball history, commissioners of the nation’s top summer leagues have agreed to go head-to-head in the Red Bull Pro-Am Basketball Classic to crown the nation’s best team.
The Red Bull PABC, a three-day classic, will unite the Drew League (Los Angeles), Dyckman (New York), AEBL (Atlanta), Miami Pro League (Miami), Danny Rumph Classic (Philadelphia), and the Brunson League (Baltimore), June 24-26 at the legendary King/Drew Magnet High School in Los Angeles, Calif. The mission of the Red Bull PABC is to bring the top pro-am basketball leagues together for an annual tournament that will showcase pro-am basketball on a national stage in a way that has never been seen before. Rivalries between these leagues have existed for years – and now, for the first time, Red Bull will host these six leagues and highlight the impact they have in their communities.
“Knowing we’re getting ready to compete against some of the best leagues in the country that are loaded with the best basketball players from their respective cities just like ours is a great feeling,” said Sean Brunson, founder of the Red Bull PABC and league commissioner of the Brunson League. “I’ve been working on putting this tournament together for nearly a decade, so to see my dream of uniting multiple pro-am leagues from different states becoming a reality is such a surreal feeling. What I’m looking forward to the most is the tip-off of the first game on Friday, June 24, because once that ball is thrown in the air, we will have officially changed the game of summer basketball forever.”
These top leagues from coast to coast will battle it out with elite local talent from the professional and amateur ranks. Rosters will be announced soon. Each league will field an all-star roster with up to 10 of their best players, in five-on-five, four-quarter games. First-round matchups begin on Friday evening and progress through Saturday afternoon and into Sunday, where the top two leagues will battle for the inaugural Red Bull PABC championship.
Championship Sunday will also include a special edition of Red Bull Run the Racks, a three-point shootout featuring each team’s best shooters, along with a five-on-five celebrity game.
Game Schedule and additional information | ThePABC.com and RedBull.com/PABC
Red Bull PABC Media Kit | https://win.gs/3G9p6Gn
Media Credential Application | https://win.gs/3mzUJju
Tickets to the Red Bull PABC are on a first-come, first-serve basis and can be purchased each day at the King/Drew Magnet High School basketball gymnasium. Additional information regarding the Caffeine TV broadcast will be announced in the coming weeks.
Red Bull PABC Commissioner Quotes
Chaniel Smiley, League Commissioner of the Drew League:
“I feel like this was long overdue but I’m very excited to finally see it come to life. I’m looking forward to getting together with all the commissioners to celebrate what we do for the culture of basketball and represent the communities we serve. I’m also looking forward to the Dyckman game, the world will be tuned in! I foresee the Drew League lifting the trophy in the air when it’s all said and done (lol). My aspirations for the future are to possibly expand it to more leagues and really have basketball fans invested in the event each summer. I see it growing each year; it’s raw authentic basketball, exactly what real hoopers appreciate.”
Ken Stevens, League Commissioner of the Dyckman League:
“I feel the Red Bull PABC tournament is going to be amazing, having six cities competing for the crown and title of having the best summer basketball players is something that’s special for everyone. I hope this is the beginning of cities uniting and bringing positive productive people together for friendly competitive basketball.”
Kyle Davis, League Commissioner of the Miami Pro League:
“It’s exciting to go up and compete against the best of the best and show everybody who we are! We’re hyped! We like being the underdogs! We coming to take it all! It’s a great opportunity for everyone, including all of the leagues, to show what we’ve got going on in our respective cities during the summer. We hope to shine a spotlight on the talent that comes out of each one of these cities!”
Mike Morak, League Commissioner of the Danny Rumph Classic:
“It’s great to be a part of the inaugural Red Bull PABC classic and aid in connecting some of the best players and leagues in the country. It’s not just about competing, it’s about building meaningful relationships with each other and providing more unique opportunities on and off the court. The talent in Philadelphia is unmatched and this event is going to show the grit and heart of the players we have annually at the Rumph Classic. These players have watched the Drew League from afar for many years, so providing them with an opportunity to go to LA and play in that environment is going to be something special and an experience that all involved can take back to their cities.”
Jah Rawlings, League Commissioner of the AEBL:
“I think it’s a really great opportunity to showcase summer pro-am basketball at its peak with the best leagues in the country competing against one another representing their city. I’m looking forward to all of us gathering and launching something epic as we take the courts in LA. Building more awareness for the AEBL brand and the elite level of basketball being played in Atlanta. Competing against cities that’ve been known for the best basketball. And of course, bring home the trophy back to the city. I think PABC is gonna be HUGE, a game-changer, and will create some great opportunities for players and coaches looking to get more exposure and recognition as we move from city to city.”
Join the conversation
Be sure to follow each of the six leagues participating and use #Rep4YourCity and #RedBullHoops to follow the content on social media.
About the Red Bull Pro-Am Basketball Classic
The Red Bull Pro-Am Basketball Classic (PABC) is an annual basketball tournament set to commence in the summer of 2022 in Los Angeles, Calif. The inaugural tournament will feature six of the best NBA/NCAA-approved summer pro-am basketball leagues in the country. They are the Drew League (Los Angeles), Dyckman (New York), AEBL (Atlanta), Miami Pro League (Miami), Danny Rumph Classic (Philadelphia), and the Brunson League (Baltimore). Each league brings a roster loaded with players with national and international professional experience and highly skilled basketball phenoms that are loved across the globe. The mission of the Red Bull PABC is to bring the top pro-am basketball leagues together for an annual tournament that will showcase Pro-Am basketball on a national stage in a way that has never been seen before. This captivating event won’t just be sensational on the basketball court, it will also have a huge impact off the court by supporting and bringing awareness to the positive community impact endeavors of each participating Pro-Am league and their respective cities.
