BASKETBALL - The African Mirror

Apr

2023

West African players dominate the international basketball scene

AFTER a head-turning performance at the Sahara Conference edition of the Basketball African League qualifiers, Central African Republic (CAR) prodigy, Thierry Serge Darlan, has made his mark once again with a selection to the Nike Hoop Summit World team. The 24th edition of the annual event brings together the top international athletes who are 19 and younger, to face the top American high school seniors and Darlan received high praise from CAR basketball federation president, Aime Serge Singha-Bengba. Thierry Darlan receives his jersey from the Nike Hoop Summit. Photo Courtesy: NBA Academy Africa “Thierry Serge Darlan is selected today. It…

Mar

2023

By The African Mirror

The NBA’s development league and South Sudan’s incredible feat; the latest in African basketball

BASKETBALL

SILALEI SHANI, BIRD STORY AGENCY WHEN NBA Academy Africa point guard Thierry Darlan recently revealed he would be joining the NBA developmental team G League Ignite, over a host of college offers, he finally put to rest concerns over his 2023 career plans. Despite scholarship offers from top basketball colleges like Arizona, Kansas, and Santa Clara and being NBA draft eligible this year, Darlan chose to go the route of the NBA development league. The league was previously named the NBA Development League, or D League until a Gatorade sponsorship, starting in the 2017-2018 season. "Many NCAA programs called me.…

Feb

2023

By The African Mirror

Afrobeats and the lure of Cape Town: Basketball’s spotlight on the continent returns

SPORT, BASKETBALL

SILALEI SHANI, BIRD STORY AGENCY THE early February announcement by Zaire Wade, the son of NBA Legend Dwayne Wade, that he had signed to play for the Basketball Africa League's (BAL) team, the Cape Town Tigers, in the 2023 season, has made waves in both basketball and sporting circles, across Africa. The 6'1 guard, who has been plying his trade with the NBA's G-League team, the Salt Lake City Stars, participated in the BAL Combine in Paris. The 2-day scouting event, which took place in January, drew 30 players from Africa, Europe, and the U.S., aspiring to play in Africa's…

Feb

2023

By BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Get ready to ball: Basketball Africa League’s 3rd season is here

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AFRICAN basketball fans are set to witness a fierce battle for the Basketball Africa League, or BAL, title after the unveiling of fixtures and game schedules for its 3rd season. The BAL, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the NBA and featuring club teams from across Africa, has become a standout on the continent's basketball scene in just two seasons - and a hit with the sport's fans. “We are confident that fans and viewers will be treated to top-tier basketball that reflects the calibre of the talent we have on the continent,” noted Anibal Manave FIBA…

Nov

2022

By The African Mirror

Nets’ Irving is not anti-Semitic, says NBA Commissioner Silver

SPORT, BASKETBALL

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he met with Kyrie Irving earlier this week and that he did not believe the Brooklyn Nets guard was anti-Semitic, Yahoo Sports reported on Thursday. Irving was heavily criticized for promoting a film that the seven-time All-Star has since said contained "false anti-Semitic statements". The Nets suspended him for at least five games after he "refused to unequivocally say he has no anti-Semitic beliefs". Irving later apologized to those "hurt from the hateful remarks made in the documentary". "Based on what he said directly, to me (I) have no doubt that he's not anti-Semitic but…

Oct

2022

By SILALEI SHANI, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Women’s basketball beats records as African tournament calendar heats up

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WOMEN’S basketball continues to draw in historic viewership across the globe, with the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Sydney confirmed as having had the highest attendance in the history of the competition with 145,519 fans attending throughout the competition. Mali was the only African country to represent the continent, qualifying after African champions Nigeria pulled out citing administrative difficulties around the sport in their country. Mali joined Group B alongside Australia, Canada, Serbia, France, and Japan. It was a dramatic outing for Mali, having lost all their games in the group stage and then having to deal with a…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Top stars in Nigeria basketball squad for AfroBasket qualifiers

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BOITUMELO RANTAO NEWLY- appointed Nigerian senior men’s basketball head coach Mike Brown has released a 20 man provisional list for the 2021 Afrobasket qualifiers. The premier African basketball event will be hosted in Kigali, Rwanda between 27th and 29th, November. Currently ranked 26th globally and 1st in Africa, Nigeria is grouped alongside host- Rwanda, Mali and Algeria in Group D. Brown, former National Association (NBA) Coach of the Year, who will officially start his journey with Nigeria, submitted a list featuring 7 players who featured at the 2019 FIBA World Cup where Nigeria qualified for the Olympics in Tokyo. Captain,…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Record 8 Nigerian players picked in historic 2020 NBA Draft

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BOITUMELO RANTAO Nigeria emerged as the winners on a historic night that saw eight of their players, two born in the country and six of Nigerian heritage, drafted into the NBA. https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1329316899981840385 Isaac Okoro who was born in the USA to Nigerian parents became the highest drafted player with Nigerian roots, drafted fifth by the Cleveland Cavaliers, since Michael Olowokandi was drafted number one overall by the LA Clippers in 1998. “It feels great to be the first Nigerian in this draft to be drafted. It’s also just a blessing. My mom always tells me to keep that Nigerian pride,”…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

COVID-19 forces postponement of Basketball Africa League

SPORT, BASKETBALL

BOITUMELO RANTAO THE COVID-19 pandemic has forced Africa to defer its dream for a continental basketball league. Basketball Africa League (BAL) President, Amadou Gallo Fall, has announced the postponement of the inaugural season of the league to next year. Basketball Africa League (BAL) President, Amadou Gallo Fall Fall said that postponing the historic BAL tip-off, which was scheduled for March this year, was a difficult, but necessary decision Fall. “We had hoped to launch the league before the end of the year, and our hosts in Rwanda were excited and prepared,” he said. Fall elaborated on the current state of…