NBA sets first game in Africa | The Odyssey Online
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NBA sets first game in Africa

Robbie Gilbert
Jul 22, 2015
Hampton University
10
NBA sets first game in Africa

In August, the NBA will bring a bountiful crew for the first ever game on the continent.

The National Basketball Association and the National Basketball Players Association announced Thursday, July 16 the full rosters for the first NBA game in Africa that will be held at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg, South Africa.

This charity All-Star game, which has been in consideration since last summer will be a highly anticipated event. The game has already sold out of tickets and will be benefiting Boys and Girls clubs of South Africa, SOS children's village Association of South Africa, and the Nelson Mandela foundation. ESPN will be broadcasting this game live August 1 in the U.S. at 9 a.m. ET and in Africa on super sport at 3:00 p.m. CAT.

The game will be showcased in a Team world led by Chris Paul vs team Africa accompanied by Luol Deng with an arrangement similar to the USA vs World version of the All-Star weekends rising stars challenge. 19 players have been selected for both teams and will be led by multiple All-Stars.

Team Africa comprised of players born in Africa and second-generation African players will feature team captain and two time All-Star Luol Deng (Chicago Bulls; Born in South Sudan) to lead the team along with Al- Farouq Aminu (Portland trailblazers; parents from Nigeria), Giannis Antekokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks; parents from Nigeria), Nicolas Batum (Charlotte hornets; parents from Cameroon), Bismack Biyombo (Toronto raptors; Democratic Republic of the Congo), Boris Diaw (San Antonio Spurs; parents from Senegal), Gorgui Dieng (Minnesota Timberwolves; Senegal), Festus Ezeli (Golden State Warriors; Nigeria), Serge Ibaka(Oklahoma City thunder; Congo) and Luc Mbah aMoute(Sacramento King; Cameroon).

Team World comprised of players from the rest of the world will headline team captain in VPA president and a time All-Star Chris Paul (Los Angeles Lakers; U.S.), Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards; U.S.), Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets; U.S.), Mark Gasol (Memphis grizzlies; Spain) Pau Gasol (Chicago Bulls; Spain), Jeff Green (Memphis Grizzlies; U.S), Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics U.S.), Evan Turner (Boston Celtics U.S.) and Nikola Vucevic (Orlando Magic; Montenegro).

According to CBS sports five time champion Greg Popovich will coach team Africa with 2014-15 NBA coach of the year Mike Budinholzer of the Atlanta Hawks and Oklahoma City thunder assistant coach Monty Williams serving as assistant coaches. Brooklyn Nets general manager Billy King and Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri are the Team Africa general managers with Eric Waters from the Washington Wizards will serve as the teams athletic trainer.


Brooklyn Nets coach Lionel Hollins will be coached team world with Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens serving as assistant coach. San Antonio Spurs general manager R.C. Buford is the Team World general manager while Keon Weise (Orlando Magic) will be the team’s athletic trainer.


Members of the NBA family will gather at the newly built boys and girls club at proteoglycan on Thursday, July 30 for a basketball court dedication and clinic presented by Nike according to NBA.com.

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