Thrive Sports returned home to Dry Dock Park in the Lower East Side on July 19th for its 29th 3-on-3 basketball tournament since 1994 (accounting for two missed years). Read the backstory here. Event video by Eric Mason.

Editor’s note: The excerpt below from “24 Years of Sportsmanship” was originally published in 2019 by summer intern Christopher Spencer. It could have just as easily applied to the 2026 collaboration with Chosen Basketball and Abounding Grace. Consistency is key to championship longevity and teamwork.

Since 1994, we’ve been nurturing champions through basketball. Here’s how we do it.

First, the community commits to a day. In the Lower East Side, our flagship tournament features the ministry that birthed us, Abounding Grace Church, and others, notably [Chosen Basketball] and DJ Ty King. Partners engage. Volunteers sign up. Churches, nonprofits, and neighbors advertise the tournament and recruit coaches and players. Permits and entertainment are secured.

Next, the day arrives, along with interns and volunteers ready and motivated to work hard … and hot. They set up tables, tents, chairs, and carnival games; grill food for lunch at noon; and support each team as coaches and mentors. They replenish water jugs and fill the court with a caring (and competitive) atmosphere. The greet every player and spectator with a smile, and later serve hot dogs and burgers to fill their stomachs.

Soon enough, enthusiastic players come around to compete in two age divisions. Volunteer coaches guide their squads on the court while others keep score. Refs maintain control in both winners and losers brackets under the watchful supervision of Coach Damian Rosado. The DJ keeps the bass bumping, while emcees talk trash playfully from the microphone.

The day heats up as the sun shines late into the afternoon with minimal cloud coverage. The division semis and final games draw the largest crowds of the day, before championships are won and trophies distributed.

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Enjoy the 2026 tournament recap video above.