Phil Knight is Turning 80 and ESPN is Giving Him a Basketball Tournament

So, what do you get a guy who really does pretty much have everything? Well, if it's Nike founder Phil Knight... how about a basketball tournament in his honor?

That's what he's getting next year.

The Phil Knight Invitational - also known as PK80 in honor of his 80th birthday - will take place over Thanksgiving Weekend in 2017 in the Rose Quarter.

The 16-team field will be split into two eight-team tournaments that will be played simultaneously at the Moda Center and Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

All games will be televised on one of ESPN's networks.

“On behalf of the 16 schools participating in PK80, we are honored to be highlighting Mr. Knight’s contributions to college basketball,” said Clint Overby, Vice President, ESPN Events. “The strength of the field coupled with the two venues in Portland set the stage for what should be an exciting weekend.”

The participating schools include Arkansas, Butler, Connecticut, Duke, Florida, Georgetown, Gonzaga, Michigan State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Portland, Portland State, Stanford and Texas.

ESPN says of the field:

The schools have combined for 23 National Championships, more than 85 Final Fours, more than 380 NCAA Championship appearances and more than 680 NCAA Championship wins;

Ten of the 16 schools have won a NCAA title;

Nine of the past 13 National Champions are in the field; and

Thirteen of the 16 schools have made at least one Final Four appearance.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to host 16 of the country’s best college basketball teams while honoring a man whose influence on the game and our region is immeasurable,” said Chris Oxley, senior vice president of venue operations, Rose Quarter. “PK80 will be an incredible showcase of basketball for fans in our arenas and watching on ESPN.”

Coaches are excited about the tournament.

“This going to be an awesome event. It’s an honor for us at Gonzaga to be part of this tournament and an honor for me to be in it.," said Gonzaga Head Coach Mark Few. "Nike has been a huge part of my life since I was in the second grade and got my first basketball shoes. It’s cool that this tournament is in the Northwest, and the teams that are in the field are going to make it a first-class event."

Terry Porter, former Blazer and current head coach at the University of Portland, also praised Knight.

"Phil Knight and Nike have contributed so much to the growth of college basketball and impacted so many individual student-athletes in a positive manner." he said. "We are privileged to be able to say thank you to Phil by helping to host and showcase this event, as well as our great city, to a national audience via ESPN next year."

Ticket information and tournament bracket will be announced at a later date. PK80 was created on behalf of the schools and is owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, in conjunction with the Rose Quarter.

Photo by Phil Ellsworth/ESPN Images