Orlando Magic’s Bismack Biyombo, Portland Trail Blazers’ CJ McCollum and Denver Nuggets’ Emmanuel Mudiay will headline the second NBA Africa Game scheduled to take place at the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg, South Africa on 5 August this year.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) officially announced the game today at the annual NBA Africa All-Star Luncheon in New Orleans.
The announcement was made by NBA commissioner Adam Silver, NBPA executive director Michele Roberts and NBA vice-president and managing director for Africa, Amadou Gallo Fall, who were joined by Biyombo, McCollum and Mudiay.
“Basketball is witnessing explosive growth in Africa. Our return to Johannesburg this summer is part of the league’s continued commitment to bring the authentic NBA experience to fans around the world. I would like to thank the NBPA for their participation and for being terrific partners on this game and surrounding events,” said Silver.
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The game, which will take place following the 15th edition of Basketball without Borders (BWB) Africa, will once again feature a Team Africa versus Team World format and will be played in support of UNICEF, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and SOS Children’s Villages South Africa (SOSCVSA).
“NBA Africa Game 2015 was a resounding success, and we are grateful for the support of the players and team personnel who participated. While we are investing more than ever in grassroots programming and in delivering locally relevant content to our fans across the continent, there is no substitute for live NBA games. I hope fans from throughout Africa will join us in Johannesburg or on Kwesé’s platforms on August 5 to see some of the NBA’s best players compete on African soil,” said Fall.
Team Africa will comprise players from Africa and second-generation African players, and Team World will be made up of players from the rest of the world. The game will air live in sub-Saharan Africa on Kwesé’s TV, Internet and mobile platforms, including Kwesé Free Sports, Kwesé Sports, select free-to-air channels, Kwesesports.com, and the Kwesé app.
Econet Founder and Executive Chairman Strive Masiyiwa said: “Kwesé is fast becoming the destination of choice for sports fanatics across sub-Saharan Africa, and the ability to exclusively carry NBA content, including NBA Africa Game 2017, on all Kwesé platforms is indicative of the strides we are making in the sports and broadcast industries.”
Biyombo, the seventh overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft and a member of Team Africa in NBA Africa Game 2015, will join 2015/16 NBA All-Rookie Second Team member Mudiay on Team Africa. McCollum, the 2015/16 Kia NBA Most Improved Player, will play for Team World.
“It was an honor and privilege to play in the first NBA game in Africa in 2015. I’m looking forward to another great game in August,” said Biyombo.
Full rosters of players, coaches and legends, along with ticket information will be announced at a later date.
The sold-out NBA Africa Game 2015, the first NBA game on the continent, took place on 1 August 2015 at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg and was played in support of Boys & Girls Clubs of South Africa, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and SOSCVSA.
For more information, fans can visit www.NBA.com/Africa, the league’s official online destination in Africa.
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