One of the largest all-Native American basketball tournaments on Turtle Island serving high school-aged youth returns to the Valley for another sizzling summer of high energy rez ball style basketball.

Get ready for the 22^nd Annual NABI (Native American Basketball Invitational), which will hold its pool and bracket games at a variety of gym locations throughout Phoenix from July 22 to 25.

The popular event routinely attracts area hoopers, including many from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.

NABI continues to work with public and private schools who will host close to 500 games total on 16 courts over 11 locations, including four locations and eight courts within the Phoenix Union High School district alone.

On July 26, the semifinals and championship games will be broadcast live on AZFamily Sports from PHX Arena, home of the Phoenix Mercury and Phoenix Suns. NABI will also stream the games live from their Nabi Network online.

“We’re always happy to come and bring those championship games to the big arena,” said Lynette Lewis, tournament director at NABI. Lewis, who has been with NABI since 2011, is in her fifth year as tournament director.

Lewis continued, “More importantly it’s all for the kids and for them to have that experience playing on a court where NBA and WNBA players play on, which is not something a lot of kids can say they did.”

This year, over 130 tribal nations, some from Canada and Alaska, will be represented in 204 teams, which are split into boys and girls divisions. More teams will compete this year than last year. In 2024, NABI reported that they had broken a record with 196 teams competing from over 184 tribal nations.

Usually, a team from New Zealand will come out to NABI, but this year they won’t be able to make it, according to Lewis.

Players will take to the court wearing purple and teal jerseys designed by Ruben Alvarez/Slam Grafix. NABI gear will be available for purchase at some of the games.

When not scheduled for a game, all players are required to attend the Educational Youth Summit that coincides with the tournament.

Before the tournament, NABI will hold a College & Career Fair at Phoenix College on July 22.

“We’re aiming to have about 30 organizations and schools [at the fair],” said Lewis

“On that same day we also have a meet and greet party, another great opportunity for the kids to come together and meet each other. They all come from different parts of the country, different tribal nations. So, it is time for them to have some fun and get to meet some of the other student athletes that are coming out to participate.”

Lewis is looking forward to seeing the Community out there representing tribal nations. “It’s all about the kids. We want them to have fun,” said Lewis. “They’re coming here to the big city, and we want them to have fun while they’re here.”

NABI reported that the tournament brings an annual economic impact of more than $3 million to the City of Phoenix.

This year, NABI tribal sponsors are the Gila River Indian Community, Seminole Tribe of Florida, and Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe. Other sponsors include the City of Phoenix, Resolution Copper, University of Phoenix, BHP, Phoenix College, Fry’s Food Stores, Arizona Science Center, Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. and more.

O’odham Action News will again cover NABI. Be sure to watch for our coverage on our website and in future OAN newspapers.