Rockets Commemorate 713 Day With Youth Basketball Clinics
HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets launched their newest campaign, 713 Day of Basketball, at the Moody Community Center Thursday morning. The event was to help the Rockets celebrate the city's unofficial holiday while giving back to the community. The affair also helped bring excitement to hoop fans this off-season.
The Rockets partnered with Houston Parks and Recreation Department to host free youth basketball clinics throughout the city.
Headlined by former forward Gerald Green and All-Star guard Steve Francis, the Rockets held basketball clinics across the city to teach kids the fundamentals of the game.
Former point guard Rafer Alston orchestrated one of the Rockets' basketball clinics at the Alief Community Center. Each child who participated received a 713 Day of Basketball t-shirt and a voucher for a special $7.13 ticket to a select Rockets game during the 2023-24 campaign.
"Today was great to enjoy 713 Day," Alston said. "Not too many cities have a day that they can call their own. It is always great to get out in the community and enjoy the game of basketball.
"To interact with the Rockets, where I had some of my better years in the NBA. I coach a lot of basketball, so I am always around the game. My connection to the community is through the game of basketball."
The Rockets also commemorated the day with a social media video called H-Town 101. The video displayed rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore testing their knowledge about the city's artists, foods and streets.
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