NBA mulls regular games in Africa

“These things just take time, but I’m very confident that in the not-too-distant future we will be playing, to begin with, a pre-season game on the continent of Africa”, Silver said.

As Chris Paul and Luol Deng prepare to captain the NBA’s first exhibition in Africa, commissioner Adam Silver says “stay tuned” for a regular-season game on the continent – per the AP.

Having already explored possibilities in China and Europe, Africa’s next for the National Basketball Association, which has brought some big names – coaches as well as players – to Johannesburg for Saturday’s exhibition game at Ellis Park Arena. NBA programme selected six Indian coaches, one each from Ludhiana, Mumbai, Kochi, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai for the 13th edition of Basketball without Borders (BWB) programme in South Africa.

Deng is joined by Al-Farouq Aminu, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nicolas Batum, Bismack Biyombo, Boris Diaw, Gorgui Deng, Festus Ezeli, Luc Mbah a Moute, and Serge Ibaka. All of that is lacking in Africa, where soccer but not basketball is part of the culture.

The game of basketball is steadily gaining popularity in Africa, with more than 35 players from the continent featured on NBA rosters since Hakeem Olajuwon was drafted in 1984.

With Paul leading the way, Team World includes Bradley Beal, Jeff Green, Marcus Smart, Kenneth Faried, Evan Turner, Marc and Pau Gasol, and Nikola Vucevic.

The NBA and worldwide Basketball Federation’s (FIBA) global basketball development and community outreach programme started on July 29 and will end on August 1 at the American worldwide School here.

Some of them will use the offseason trip to go on a safari and visit the foundation of late South African president Nelson Mandela, Silver said, among other excursions. Silver, who got married recently, said he will go on a honeymoon after the game to the east coast of Africa.

“It’s incredible to see all these guys here”, said Raptors GM Masai Ujiri on a conference call Thursday.

NBA India senior director Carlos Barroca said “The teachers did a great job in India and are here at BWB Africa to continue to learn and enhance their basketball training skills with the best coaches/trainers from around the world”.