NBA welcomes ambassador BTS SUGA back; ARMY hope to see basketball lover back in action again
While ARMYs led the charge in celebrating the return of BTS rapper and producer SUGA, the NBA (National Basketball Association) also joined in welcoming their global ambassador back with equal enthusiasm.
Fans around the world are celebrating BTS' SUGA as he returns to civilian life following his discharge from the South Korean military. Social media has been flooded with heartfelt messages, images, posters, and videos, all marking the rapper's long-awaited return to the spotlight.
While ARMYs led the charge in celebrating, the NBA (National Basketball Association) also joined in welcoming their global ambassador back with equal enthusiasm.
With pride and excitement, we welcome NBA Ambassador SUGA back! ???
¡ª NBA Indonesia (@NBA_Indonesia) June 21, 2025
The journey continues, and we look forward to cheering with you at games very soon. Stay tuned for more! ?#SUGAxNBA #BTS #WelcomeBack #NBAAmbassador pic.twitter.com/TBnOyBfq7r
NBA ambassador: BTS SUGA
In 2023, BIGHIT MUSIC - the label behind 21st-century pop icons BTS - partnered with the NBA to name SUGA (rapper, songwriter, producer, and BTS member) as an official NBA Ambassador.
A passionate basketball fan, SUGA fully embraced the role, helping bridge the worlds of music and sports. Throughout the 2022¨C23 season, prior to his military enlistment, he actively participated in league events across the US and Asia, engaging with fans around the globe.
His ambassador activities were widely promoted across both his personal social media accounts and the NBA's official channels, amplifying the league's global presence and introducing a new audience to the sport.
NBA welcomes SUGA back to civilian life
Two official NBA X (formerly known as Twitter) accounts - NBA Philippines and NBA Indonesia - welcomed SUGA back with warm messages. Both accounts shared a video clip of the BTS member enjoying an NBA game, along with the caption:
"With pride and excitement, we welcome NBA Ambassador SUGA back! The journey continues, and we look forward to cheering with you at games very soon. Stay tuned for more!"
With pride and excitement, we welcome NBA Ambassador SUGA back! ???
¡ª NBA Philippines (@NBA_Philippines) June 21, 2025
The journey continues, and we look forward to cheering with you at games very soon. Stay tuned for more! ?#SUGAxNBA #BTS #WelcomeBack #NBAAmbassador pic.twitter.com/s1dL0x2m38
More about BTS
After over a year of service, BTS members RM and V were officially discharged from the South Korean military last week. The following day, Jimin and Jung Kook also completed their enlistment, wrapping up their duties and marking the end of a chapter that began in December 2023, when all four members enlisted around the same time.
Among the group, six members served active duty in the army. SUGA, however, carried out his mandatory service as a social service agent, an alternative system assigned due to health reasons¡ªspecifically, a shoulder surgery he underwent prior to enlistment.
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Karen Noronha is a versatile journalist with a passion for sports and K-pop. With over 7 years of experience at publications like IBTimes UK, DNA, and OTTPlay/DesiMartini, she seamlessly transitions between covering global athletic events and the dynamic world of K-pop.
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