Johnson (NBA legend and chairman and CEO of Magic Johnson Theatres and Johnson Development Corporation) and Brown (Philadelphia 76ers Head Coach) will showcase the new build-and-play LEGO NBA assortment of toys at an event at the new Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, the birthplace of Basketball in 1891. Johnson and Brown were inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame yesterday.

Available at retail beginning in January 2003, the 14 new LEGO NBA sets will translate LEGO values such as creativity, togetherness and fun into innovative build-and-compete basketball games. Designed to encourage interactive or solo play, the sets will feature a specially patented spring action functionality, allowing users to actually pick-up, pass and shoot baskets with the mini-figures.

"We find the connection between sports and construction to be an especially strong offering," says Andrew Black, president of LEGO Systems, Inc. "LEGO NBA sets combine classic, open-ended construction with the competitive game play of the NBA � the world's leading authority on the sport. These all come together to make this product a slam dunk."

The cornerstone set, "NBA Challenge", available in January for a suggested retail price of $49.99 (USD), includes a full-court of LEGO mini-figure players to bring NBA action home through multi-player competitive play. Other sets, like "Ultimate Defense" ($12.99 USD) and "NBA Slam Dunk" ($7.99 USD), include single players in various hoop obstacles and courts, designed for children to hone their hoop skills � LEGO style.

Beginning October 28, children can visit www.LEGO.com/sports to find out the first three NBA players who will be featured as LEGO mini-figures. The players will be revealed through a fictional LEGO NBA Draft � a process whereby three stand-out NBA players will be "drafted" each week, through December 16, to join the LEGO team of NBA mini-figures. The 24 drafted players will be featured in collectible LEGO NBA player sets, containing a LEGO mini-figure in their likeness and a LEGO Sports Upper Deck® trading card, packed in eight sets of three each. The collectible mini-figure sets will be available in January for $7.99 (USD).

Additionally, 10 of the 24 "drafted" NBA players will be featured in the LEGO "Ultimate NBA Arena" � the deluxe set within the LEGO NBA product line. Retailing for $89.99 (USD) and available in March 2003, the Ultimate NBA Arena allows children to build a full basketball arena where some of their favorite NBA stars can go head-to-head in LEGO NBA action. A special replica NBA Spalding basketball � in LEGO scale � will be included in both this deluxe set as well as the "NBA Challenge" set.

"We anticipate the new LEGO line featuring NBA-themed products and NBA player mini-figures will be very popular with our younger fans," said Sal LaRocca, NBA Senior Vice President of Global Merchandising. "The LEGO assortment is a nice addition to the overall NBA product mix which has enjoyed a significant surge in popularity over the past 18 months."

A new NBA marketing partner, LEGO Company will launch a comprehensive global marketing campaign that will incorporate many of the NBA's integrated marketing assets, as well as have a feature on NBA.com called the LEGO Creative Play of the Week. LEGO Company's marketing campaign also will include an interactive area at the NBA All-Star Jam Session and participation in the NBA Jam Van - the league's interactive travelling basketball experience.

Coinciding with the family activities surrounding the grand opening festivities of the new Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend, local children are invited to help piece together the "World's Largest NBA Spalding Basketball Made of LEGO bricks," constructed of 148,950 pieces and measuring eight feet in diameter.