The NBA is reaching new heights with this impactful game
Yesterday, the NBA and the NBPA (National Basketball Players Association) announced that they will have its first NBA game in Africa and it will take place Aug. 1st at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg, South Africa. The game will feature Team Africa vs. Team World and will support the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Africa, Nelson Mandela Foundation and the SOS Children’s Villages Association of South Africa.
The game will air live in the U.S on ESPN at 9:00 a.m ET and also in Africa on SuperSport at 3:00 p.m. CAT. Spurs coach and five-time NBA Champion Gregg Popovich will coach Team Africa alongside NBA Coach of the Year Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks. Brooklyn Nets Coach Lionel Hollins will coach Team World alongside Coach Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics serving as the assistant coach.
Check below to see the players playing for both Team Africa And World:
Team Africa will comprise of players born in Africa and second-generation African players. Team captain and two-time NBA All-Star Luol Deng (Miami Heat; Great Britain; born in South Sudan), Al-Farouq Aminu (Portland Trail Blazers; U.S.; parents from Nigeria), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks; Greece; parents from Nigeria), Nicolas Batum (Charlotte Hornets; France; parent from Cameroon), Bismack Biyombo (Toronto Raptors; Democratic Republic of the Congo), Boris Diaw (San Antonio Spurs; France; parent from Senegal), Gorgui Dieng (Minnesota Timberwolves; Senegal), Festus Ezeli (Golden State Warriors; Nigeria), Serge Ibaka (Oklahoma City Thunder; Congo)*, and Luc Mbah a Moute (Sacramento Kings; Cameroon).
Team World is comprised of players from the rest of the world and feature captain and NBPA President and eight-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers; U.S.), Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards; U.S.), Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets; U.S.), Marc 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). Be sure to catch the game on August 1st.
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