16th July, 2015
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) have named Econet Global Limited, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa, NIKE Inc., South African Airways (SAA), SuperSport, and 947 as partners for NBA Africa Game 2015.
The first NBA game in Africa will take place 1 August, 2015 at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The game, which will be aired in Africa on SuperSport, will feature a Team Africa versus 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.
Organisers said that Econet Global Limited is the Official Mobile and Telecommunications Partner of NBA Africa Game 2015; and it will co-brand NBA Africa Game marketing campaign across Africa.
Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa is the Official Automotive Partner of NBA Africa Game 2015 and will also host an NBA Cares clinic.
NIKE Inc. on the other hand is the Official Marketing Partner of NBA Africa Game 2015; partner of Basketball without Borders Africa 2015; NBA Cares partner for a new court at the Boys & Girls Club in Protea Glen, Johannesburg.
South African Airways is the Official Airline Partner of NBA Africa Game 2015 transporting Team Africa and Team World players to South Africa; partner of Basketball without Borders Africa 2015.
SuperSport is the Official NBA Broadcast Partner since 2013. This year, SuperSport will broadcast the game live starting at 3:00 p.m. local time across Sub-Saharan Africa, while 947 is the Official Radio Partner of NBA Africa Game 2015.
“This is a historic moment for the NBA and the sport of basketball in Africa, and we are excited to work with such a broad range of partners to make this game possible,” said Amadou Gallo Fall, NBA Vice President and Managing Director-Africa.
“The game will impact young people throughout the continent, both on the court and in the community, as we bring some of the world’s most recognizable athletes to Johannesburg to celebrate our long tradition in Africa.”
Team Africa, comprising of players from Africa and second-generation African players, will feature team captain and two-time NBA All-Star Luol Deng (Miami Heat; born in South Sudan), Serge Ibaka (Oklahoma City Thunder; Congo) and Gorgui Dieng (Minnesota Timberwolves; Senegal).
Team World, comprising players from the rest of the world, will feature team captain and eight-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers; U.S.), Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards; U.S.) and Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets; U.S.).
The NBA has a long history in Africa with more than 35 players from the continent that have featured on NBA rosters since Hakeem Olajuwon was drafted in 1984.
Through NBA Cares, 58 places to live, learn or play have been created in Africa, and Basketball without Borders Africa has been held 12 times on the continent.
The league opened an African headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2010 and recently launched junior NBA leagues in Mozambique and Uganda as part of comprehensive grassroots programmes across the continent.