THE second edition of the National Basketball Association, NBA game in Africa will take place in Johannesburg.
The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) have set the date for this popular game on August 5 in Johannesburg and have attracted seven sponsors for the game.
Kwesé Sports, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa, Castle Lite, General Electric, Solektra International, Marriott International and 947 will be the official partners of NBA Africa Game 2017. The partner roster represents the most ever for the NBA in Africa.
NBA Africa Game 2017, which will take place following the 15th edition of Basketball without Borders (BWB) Africa, will once again feature a Team Africa vs. Team World format and will be played in support of Unicef, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and SOS Children’s Villages South Africa (SOSCVSA).
“This blue-chip roster of partners for the second NBA Africa Game is testament to the growth of basketball and the NBA brand across the continent,” said NBA vice president and managing director for Africa, Amadou Gallo Fall. “These like-minded partners also share our mission to improve the lives of young people and will work with us to amplify the impact of the game of basketball throughout Africa.”
“Kwesé Sports is the exclusive home of basketball in sub-Saharan Africa, and we are excited to once again partner with the NBA on this game,” said Econet Media president and chief Executive officer Joseph Hundah. “Sports are important for development on the continent, and access is a critical aspect of growing sports in Africa. Our pan-African broadcast capability delivered across our various broadcast and mobile platforms extends the reach of basketball, exposing more fans to the beautiful game.”
Team Africa, including Bismack Biyombo (Orlando Magic – Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Emmanuel Mudiay (Denver Nuggets – Democratic Republic of the Congo) will be comprised of players from Africa and second- generation African players.
Team World, including CJ McCollum (Portland Trail Blazers – USA), will be comprised of players from the rest of the world.
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 in 2015 at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg.
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