Renowned basketball player Gorgui Dieng from the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Minnesota Timberwolves visited 50 children on Thursday at a shelter in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.

The visit to Sunshine School, home to street kids and underprivileged children between the ages of 5 and 16, was part of the NBA Cares program and sponsored by the NBA and the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.

Dieng came to the city for National Training Camp, held from June 17 to 19 within the framework of the NBA’s Jr. NBA development program in Vietnam 2016.

During his visit, the 2.1-meter-tall player held a friendly talk with the children, sharing how he was able to turn his love of the game into accomplishing a dream.

Gorgui Dieng (second right) listens to a question by a kid from Sunshine School. Photo: Dong Nguyen/Tuoi Tre News

“I’m very happy to be here,” Dieng said. “From sharing my experience, I hope I can give the kids something to believe and help them become successful in life.”

Born in 1990 in Senegal, Dieng started to play the sport at 16 and is now in his third year of playing in NBA.

He won the 2013 NCAA Championship with the University of Louisville and is currently considered one of the best centers in the NBA.

“I came from nowhere and basketball gives me everything,” Dieng said.

“He inspired me a lot by telling the story behind how he started with basketball, what basketball has given him, and how he has used basketball as a tool to help people,” 16-year-old Nguyen Minh Duc shared after talking with Dieng.

There was a short video showing Dieng’s basketball highlights and the children got a first-hand look at the player performing at the venue.

The basketball star also led some teamwork exercises with the children.

“One important thing about basketball is teamwork and helping each other,” U.S. Consul General Rena Bitter spoke at the event. “Whether you win or lose, both good and bad things are better when you share them with each other.”

One of the funniest parts of the event was the presence of Rocky the Mountain Lion, the mascot for the NBA’s Denver Nuggets.

Jr. NBA uniforms and more than 50 balls were also gifted to the children.

Children play with Rocky the Mountain Lion. Photo: Dong Nguyen/Tuoi Tre News

A representative for the school expressed her hope that after talking with Dieng, the kids will understand more about basketball, raise their interest in sports, and see the benefits sports can have on health, spirit, and personal development.

After the meeting, Gorgui Dieng and his NBA teammates provided coaching for 64 members of Jr. NBA Vietnam and select 15 players (10 males and 5 females) for the Jr. NBA Vietnam All-Star 2016 team.

The All-Star team will have chances to experience basketball in other countries, as well as participating in friendly matches with Jr. NBA All-Stars in Southeast Asia at the end of the year.

Children at the school pose for a group photo with Rocky the Mountain Lion, Gorgui Dieng, and other players from the NBA. Photo: Dong Nguyen/Tuoi Tre News

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