NBA to play first exhibition game on African continent August 1 in Johannesburg

(Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from Target Market News) – The National Basketball Association and the National Basketball Players Association announced that the NBA’s first game in Africa will take place Aug. 1 at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg, South Africa. The announcement was made at a press conference in Johannesburg by NBA Africa Vice President and Managing Director Amadou Gallo Fall, Hon. Minister of Sport, Fikile Mbalula and U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Patrick S. Gaspard.

The game will feature a Team Africa vs. Team World format and will be played in support of Boys & Girls Clubs of South Africa, SOS Children’s Villages Association of South Africa and the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Team Africa will be comprised of players from Africa and second generation African players, and Team World will be comprised of players from the rest of the world. The game will air live in Africa on SuperSport.

Eight-time NBA All-Star and NBPA President Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers will serve as Team World’s captain and two-time NBA All-Star Luol Deng of the Miami Heat—born in South Sudan—will serve as Team Africa’s captain.

NBA executives, coaches, general managers and legends will also participate, including: 2014-15 NBA Coach of the Year Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets Coach Lionel Hollins, Brooklyn Nets General Manager Billy King, NBA Global Ambassador Dikembe Mutombo, NBA Africa Ambassador Hakeem Olajuwon, San Antonio Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Boston Celtics Coach Brad Stevens, Toronto Raptors General Manager Masai Ujiri and New Orleans Pelicans Coach Monty Williams.

Full rosters of players, coaches and legends, along with ticket information will be announced at a later date.

The game will take place following the 13th edition of Basketball without Borders (BWB) Africa, the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development program that has reached 1,000 campers from 31 African countries since 2003.

This article originally published in the May 4, 2015 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.