Oscar da Silva is more than just a basketball player. He’s also passionate about giving back – and he’s doing it in a way that’s making the difference. As an ambassador for One Team, Euroleague Basketball’s social responsibility program, the FC Bayern Munich forward is using sport as a bridge to connect, uplift, and inspire.

“We’re in a position to drive change,” Da Silva says. “One Team gives us the chance to do exactly that. It’s a way to give back to our communities and connect with our supporters in a meaningful way.”

One Team works with clubs and players across Europe to tackle local social challenges, using basketball as a powerful tool for personal growth and inclusion. Da Silva has embraced that mission wholeheartedly, first doing so with FC Barcelona and now with Bayern.

His multicultural background – having grown up in Germany with a Brazilian father and German mother – helps him relate to a wide range of participants during the One Team sessions. Many of those who attend come from marginalized communities or face challenges that put them at risk of social exclusion.

While at Barcelona, Da Silva took part in weekly sessions with young inmates, using basketball to encourage self-confidence, teamwork, and hope for the future. His consistency and warmth left a real impression.

“What makes it all worth it is the love you receive from the kids,” he says. “Seeing them smile, laugh, have fun – that’s everything. Those little moments stay with you.”

Now in Munich, Da Silva is working with the Young Refugee Center, leading basketball sessions for unaccompanied minors who’ve arrived in Germany. His focus is on helping them feel included, learn life skills, and build community through sport.

For Da Silva, these experiences have had a big impact on him, too.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned is to play basketball with joy again,” he reflects. “To treat it like a passion, not just a job. It’s made me more grateful for what I do every day.”

Looking ahead, Da Silva remains committed to being hands-on. For him, the most meaningful way to make a difference is to be a person first and a player second.

“It’s not about visibility,” he says. “It’s about being present and connecting with people face to face.”

Da Silva embodies what it means to be a One Team Ambassador: he leads with heart, connects with purpose, and uses his platform to lift others. Through his work with youth, refugees, and vulnerable communities, he’s proving that the true spirit of sport goes far beyond the game.

“What I take home is how much the One Team program means to the participants – and what’s possible through it,” says Klara Benz, Bayern’s One Team Manager. “It’s not just about basketball. It’s about confidence, empathy, and growth.”

Her favorite memory? The One Team game day, when the kids realized they’d be playing in front of over 11,000 people.

“They performed with passion and unity,” she recalls. “Their smiles and joy lit up the entire arena. I’ll never forget it.”