The Shaw’s Pro Summer League will be held at the Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium at the University of Massachusetts – Boston from Monday, July 15th to Sunday, July 21st. The league will feature 10 teams including the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs, and the Washington Wizards. The league will consist of two double-header sessions each weekday as well as two weekend double-header sessions followed by a triple-header. The NBA teams will be comprised of roster players, free agents and rookies.
The Shaw’s Pro Summer League will include a free fan festival consisting of outdoor basketball games and exhibitions open daily from 12:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. The fan festival will be held at UMass-Boston, outdoors, adjacent to the athletic center. It will feature the NBA Jam Van, a 67-foot, 18-wheel vehicle that transforms into 4,000 square feet of interactive basketball exhibits, games and activities. The NBA Jam Van is sponsored by Gatorade, TNT and the Nintendo GameCube.
“The Boston Celtics are excited to host the 2002 Shaw’s Pro Summer League at UMass Boston,” said General Manager Chris Wallace. “The summer leagues are an important part of our training mission to have our team ready for what we believe will be a successful season. The leagues are also a great way for us to evaluate talent and scout potential free agents. This will be a wonderful opportunity for New England basketball fans to watch professional basketball up close and personal.”
The Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium, with a capacity of just under 3,000, will create an intimate setting for professional basketball. Shaw’s Supermarkets and the Boston Celtics will distribute thousands of free tickets through the United Way of Massachusetts Bay to community groups and make tickets available to Celtics season ticket holders. In addition, tickets will be distributed to Boston’s community centers, courtesy of Mayor Thomas M. Menino’s office. The Celtics and participating NBA players will also host community groups from the Boston area throughout the week.
(This article was originally published on the UMass Boston website.)