NBA Announces 1st Africa Game: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction
The NBA's global initiative has aided in the expansion and development of the game of basketball all over the world, and another significant step will be taken in August when the league holds its first-ever game in Africa.
According to SuperSport on Twitter, Johannesburg, South Africa, is set to host a special exhibition matchup on Aug. 1:
As revealed by NBA Africa, the game will be branded Team Africa vs. Team World, and it will feature Luol Deng of the Miami Heat captaining one team, with Los Angeles Clippers star Chris Paul heading the other:
Per SuperSport.com, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver believes the upcoming game represents a huge accomplishment for Africa as a basketball-playing continent.
"The NBA has worked hard to grow the game of basketball in Africa, and I am excited to take this next step of playing our first game on the continent. Our players have been tremendous partners in this effort, and all of us look forward to sharing the authentic NBA experience and the values of our game with fans in Africa.
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Deng, who was born in South Sudan, is particularly excited to be involved with the historic event:
There is no question that basketball has made huge strides in Africa over the years. The NBA has featured many African-born players, and that number figures to grow, as the August exhibition undoubtedly will positively impact the sport's popularity.
Silver has shown a great deal of passion for globalizing the NBA and basketball as a whole since taking over as commissioner, and his foray into Africa is one of the most significant steps yet toward making his vision a reality.
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