Brandon Roy returned to the Seattle waterfront this weekend, where the former NBA All-Star traded the hardwood for handshakes at a youth 3-on-3 tournament. He was not there to make a comeback — he was there to help build something that could outlast one. The setting was Pier 62, but the draw was unmistakably Seattle basketball.
The Seattle native appeared at Rise Above’s free three-day event, signing autographs and taking selfies with young fans while making clear he would not suit up. The Seattle Times reported that Roy called the tournament special because of his Seattle roots and said his playing days are over.
Rise Above, the nonprofit behind the event, was founded in 2015 to support Native youth through sports, mentorship and health-focused programming. The organization says its work combines athletic activities with ongoing community engagement, making the waterfront tournament more than a weekend of jump shots and brackets.
Seattle Basketball Royalty Showed Up At Pier 62
Roy was joined by a familiar collection of Seattle basketball figures, including former SuperSonics Shawn Kemp, Vin Baker and Nate McMillan, along with former Washington Huskies standout Spencer Hawes. Joyce Walker and longtime Seattle basketball figure Lenny Wilkens also appeared, giving the event the feel of a reunion without turning it into a nostalgia act.
Strong support from Sonics fans was part of the point. The tournament brought generations of local basketball figures together with young players, while Rise Above partnered with Roy to create a free event focused on access, mentorship and community.
The event also fits neatly into the waterfront’s expanding public-programming calendar. A 2026 season announcement from Friends of Waterfront Park lists the Rise Above 3-on-3 basketball tournament among the community events scheduled for Pier 62 this summer.
Roy’s Second Act Is About Building A Legacy
Roy’s professional career ended early after injuries, but his Seattle presence has remained strong. He was selected sixth overall in the 2006 NBA draft, according to NBA.com, and NBC Sports reported that he stepped away in 2011 because of a degenerative knee condition.
Now, Roy is using the part of basketball that injuries could not take away: the ability to show up, speak with young players and make the sport feel close enough to touch. He did not need to play at Pier 62 to make an impact; for Seattle’s next generation, being there was the highlight.
