The NBA will not play on Election Day, Tuesday Nov. 3, instead urging Americans to get out, vote and ensure their voices are heard in our democracy.
All 30 teams hit the court on Monday as part of the league’s 2026 NBA Get In The Game. VOTE. campaign, offering a full slate for fans as the NBA partnered with broadcasters and players to spread awareness of the upcoming midterm elections and the importance of civic participation. To further promote the message, players wore VOTE shirts during pregame.
Launched in 2022 in partnership with the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), the campaign builds on the league’s longstanding commitment to civic engagement.
More than 50 million Gen Z voters are eligible to vote in this election. The same generation shaping culture every day has the power to shape the decisions that impact communities and the future, but only if they participate at the ballot box. Building awareness and inspiring civic engagement among those young voters is at the heart of this year’s campaign.
“Making your voice heard through your vote is empowering,” said James Cadogan, executive director of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition. “We’re excited to engage fans across the country and inspire voters of all ages, demographics, and perspectives to come together and help shape our future.”
“Our players understand that their impact extends far beyond the game,” said Erika Swilley, executive director of the NBPA Foundation. “Civic engagement is one of the many ways they lead in their communities and use their platforms to create meaningful change. The ‘Get in the Game. VOTE.’ campaign is an opportunity to encourage voter participation and remind people that their voices matter. We’re proud to work alongside our partners to help engage and empower voters across the country.”
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain created a public service announcement and behind-the-scenes video for the campaign, lending his skills as a TikTok creator to the annual initiative, which also featured a video from Doc Rivers.
Coach J.B. Bickerstaff, forward Duncan Robinson and forward Taurean Prince of the Detroit Pistons also came together for a “Teammate Talk” video, discussing the importance of making an impact in their respective communities and their rationale for voting, as part of campaigns from all 30 NBA teams.
Other partners in the 2026 NBA Get In The Game. VOTE. campaign include Vet The Vote, which calls on military veterans and families to serve as poll workers, helping ensure the functioning of our democracy; the democracy initiative When We All Vote, Civic Nation and Power The Polls.
Officials from these organizations lent their voices to this collective call to action ahead of Tuesday’s Election Day.
- “Democracy is a team sport, and we’re all better off when more people get in the game. The issues shaping Americans’ everyday lives — the economy, healthcare, racial justice, immigration and more — are all on the ballot,” said Civic Nation CEO Kyle Lierman. “We’re proud to partner with the NBA through our When We All Vote initiative to make sure teams, players and fans have a game plan to vote and know the power of their voices on and off the court.”
- “Vet the Vote is proud to have recruited over 176,000 veterans in every state in the union to serve again as poll workers,” said Ellen Gustafson, co-founder and executive director of We The Veterans & Military Families. “These unsung heroes will be in your polling stations and supporting your state’s elections and we encourage all voters to thank them for their service twice this election day!”
- “Today, poll workers across the country are opening polling places and helping their neighbors vote, and many are doing it for the first time,” said Sam Slosberg, program director of Power The Polls. “We’re grateful to the NBA for helping more people see that working the polls is another way to get in the game. If you want to help in the next election, sign up at nba.com/elections.”
Those interested can also find trusted, non-partisan voting information at nba.com/elections.
