This year’s World Basketball Day is Luka Doncic’s gift for the youth this holiday season. As we all know December 21 marks the day as mentioned earlier, but this year it’s extra special. The Dallas Mavericks guard has ensured to make it so with his newly launched project. And joining him in this cause is basketball legend and 2x NBA champ, Pau Gasol.

The former LA Lakers star took to X to announce his association with Doncic’s Luka Doncic Foundation, launched on this World Basketball Day.

Gasol shared his enthusiasm on X, writing, “@luka7doncic is an extraordinary player and an inspiring role model. I’m truly honored to join the @LD77Foundation Youth Sports Leadership Council. Congratulations on this incredible launch, my friend! Looking forward to the journey ahead and the positive impact we’ll make together.”

If you’ve ever experienced the magic of youth sports, you know how life-changing they can be. Doncic does too. His Foundation aims to ensure kids worldwide get that same joy, helping sports become a powerful and enriching force in their lives.

In fact, ahead of its launch, the Foundation conducted a detailed study on youth basketball in the US and Europe, especially the Balkan region, that shaped some of the world’s best basketball players. But the findings weren’t all rosy. The study revealed that joy, creativity, and exploration are fading from the game. Even more concerning, 70 percent of young athletes quit sports by age 13, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

That’s where the Luka Doncic Foundation intends to step in with its Total Hoops Approach. This innovative plan is all about making basketball more accessible and fun while focusing on kids’ positive development.

Other basketball stars who are a part of Luka Doncic Foundation’s Youth Sports Leadership Council

Apart from the former LA Lakers star, the initial group of Youth Sports Leadership Council members includes names like Stephen Curry, Bill Duffy, Pau Gasol, Sabrina Ionescu, Igor Kokoskov, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, and Tracy McGrady.

In the official release by the Luka Doncic Foundation, Curry couldn’t have been more excited, saying, “I am honored to be a part of Luka’s Youth Sports Leadership Council as we set out to seek positive change in youth sports.” For Curry, the council’s mission aligns perfectly with his own foundation’s goals of promoting health and well-being through sports.

Dirk Nowitzki, meanwhile, chimed in too, highlighting how vital it is to keep basketball accessible for kids everywhere. As he puts it, “Basketball has the power to unite and inspire, and I’m thrilled to help advance the game for future generations.” 

Backed by Luka Doncic’s personal $2.5 million contribution, the foundation is partnering with FIBA, Jordan Brand, and more to roll out global programs focused on youth development, wellness, and education. The goal? To create a love for basketball through a Total Hoops Approach that opens doors for kids all over the world.

The council isn’t just about sports—it’s about changing lives. No wonder Pau Gasol couldn’t hold back from sharing his excitement to be a part of it.