photo credit: The Len // Shutterstock
It looks like the NBA is taking things overseas. The Basketball Africa League is set to kick off in 2020 with teams coming from Angola, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia. This will be the first pro-league outside of North America and will be co-run by FIBA.
“As we’ve been talking about this concept over the last several months, there’s been a tremendous reception from several of our NBA team owners,” Adam Silver said. “Several of our partners have also expressed an interest to work with us in Africa.”
Word is that Obama will have his hand in the league as well. Like Obama, more than 80 current or former players are from Africa or have ties to the continent.
“We’re excited to work closely with the NBA to develop and put in a place a professional league like none that we have ever seen in our region before,” FIBA Africa executive director Alphonse Bile said. “Through the Basketball Africa League, we can provide the many great clubs and players with the best possible environment to compete for the highest stakes.”
Qualification tournament to determine inaugural participants will be held later this year.
Written by Clarke Jones