WHAT:              Celebration of 4 decades of Summer League Adult Basketball; Legends Championship Ballgame and festivities

WHO:                Little Rock Parks & Recreation Staff

                         Dunbar Community Center Staff                      

WHERE:          Dunbar Community Center
                       1001 West 16^th Street

                       Little Rock, AR 72202

WHEN:             Thursday, August 4, 2016

                        5:45 p.m. Doors open

                        6:30 p.m. Legends Game

                        7:30 p.m. Championship Game

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Dunbar Community Center, home of the legendary Men’s Summer Basketball League, is marking the league’s 40^th anniversary this week. The summer league has been home to professional, semi-professional and collegiate basketball players from Arkansas and surrounding areas. 

The Men’s Summer Basketball League is a staple not only in the local community but in Central Arkansas, with rosters that have included former and present players from the Arkansas Razorbacks, Little Rock Trojans, Arkansas Baptist College Buffaloes, and other surrounding colleges and universities.

Former players who have participated in the league include former NBA players Sidney Moncrief, Scottie Pippen, Derek Fisher, Corliss Williamson, and many others.  Present professional athletes who have played in the past two seasons include Joe Johnson (NBA All-Star), Bobby Portis (Chicago Bulls), Archie Goodwin (Phoenix Suns), and former Razorbacks Alandise Harris and Ky Madden.

Championship Week (August 1 – 4) brings hundreds of basketball fans from Central Arkansas for an exciting week of a high profile single-elimination tournament.  On Thursday, Aug. 4, at 7:30 p.m., the Dunbar Community Center will draw a capacity crowd to see who will be crowned the 2016 Men’s Summer League Champion. 

The annual Men’s Summer League Legends Basketball Game will be held prior to the championship game at 6:30 p.m. This game will feature some of the best players — who have since retired — as they return to Dunbar Community Center for a fun-filled game in front of family and friends to see “who still has it.” This game is followed by a dinner reception for the former players and coaches.

Doors will open at 5:45 p.m.