BASKETBALL - The African Mirror

Oct

28

2024

Spotlight on African basketball talent and milestones as NBA’s 2024/25 season takes off

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THE NBA’s 2024/2025 season has tipped off, promising fans worldwide a thrilling feast of hoops action – and with a record number of African players on the courts, African fans have more reason to follow the season action. According to a press statement by the NBA ahead of the season, which commenced on October 22, “a record-tying 17 players from Africa are among the 125 international players from 43 countries across six continents on opening-night rosters.” Cameroon takes the lead in player representation this season, showcasing stars like Pascal Siakam, Joel Embiid, and three other talents. Nigeria follows closely with…

Oct

04

2024

By SILALEI SHANI, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Honouring the legacy of Dikembe Mutombo – a tribute

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OFTENTIMES, a man’s legacy is discovered after he leaves this earth. However, the world didn’t need Dikembe Mutombo’s recent passing to know how great a man he was. From his entry to the NBA as one of Africa’s basketball trailblazers, a Basketball Hall of Famer who was considered one of the best defensive players in the league’s history, to his life after retirement, devoting his time and efforts to charitable and humanitarian causes within the NBA and in his home country, the Democratic Republic of Congo. Growing up, my favourite part of the game of basketball was defence. I would…

Oct

02

2024

By The African Mirror

The mountain that moved: Dikembe Mutombo’s reign on the court

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THE crowd's roar swells as an opposing player drives towards the basket, eyes locked on the rim, victory in sight. But there, like a monolith risen from the hardwood, stands Dikembe Mutombo. His arms stretch skyward, fingers splayed, a human eclipse blotting out hope and light for would-be scorers. In the annals of NBA history, few figures loom as large - both literally and figuratively - as Dikembe Mutombo. For 18 seasons, this 7-foot-2 Congolese colossus patrolled the paint, a defensive sentinel whose very presence altered the course of games and the trajectories of countless shots. Mutombo wasn't your typical…

Sep

22

2024

By SILALEI SHANI

African Basketball Roundup

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BC Chaux Sport are Congo Cup League champions, Mali dominates at the FIBA U18 Afrobasket and Petro de Luanda represents the continent at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup. The recently concluded 2024 FIBA Intercontinental Cup saw Africa’s only representative Angolan side, Petro De Luanda, finish 5th in the classification games in the 34th edition of the tournament, hosted at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Petro de Luanda qualified for the tournament as champions of the Basketball Africa League 2024 season and is the first Sub-Saharan African team to do so. BC Chaux Sport vs BC Terreur in the finals. Photo Courtesy: Chaux…

Aug

29

2024

By The African Mirror

NBA Africa on a mission to popularize Basketball in South Africa

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IN recent years, South Africa has become one of the African countries that have struggled to perform on the African, and global basketball stages. As a result, nurturing talent from the grassroots level has been a challenge, and Basketball South Africa’s current financial state warrants concern. In an effort to make a change, NBA Africa’s Head of Social Responsibility, Mthoko Madonda in this interview discusses efforts to grow the sport in South Africa, financial support, nurturing coaches, and interest from young children. Growing the game: Basketball in South Africa ranks among many of the unpopular sporting codes, often overshadowed by…

Aug

24

2024

By SILALEI SHANI, BIRD STORY AGENCY

bird’s basketball roundup: After the Olympics, the focus is on the World Cup

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THE pre-qualifying tournament for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup kicked off this month in Kigali, Rwanda and Mexico City, Mexico. Winners from each of the tournaments will proceed to the World Cup Qualifiers. The Rwanda edition kicked off on the 19th of August and will run until the 25th at Kigali’s BK Arena, where 8 teams are competing for only 1 spot in the global qualifiers. Two African teams, including Rwanda and Senegal, are participating in Kigali. Rwanda qualified as host and is competing in Group D against Great Britain, Lebanon, and Argentina. Senegal is battling it out…

Aug

09

2024

By The African Mirror

20th edition of Basketball Without Borders Africa camp concludes in South Africa

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BASKETBALL Without Borders (BWB) Africa 2024 concluded on Tuesday, August 6 at the American International School of Johannesburg (AISJ) in South Africa, where 60 boys and girls returned to the final day to participate in a Q&A panel with current and former NBA and WNBA players, a three-point contest, semifinals and championship games. The basketball action tipped off with the semifinals, followed by the championship games between girls’ teams Aces and Liberty, with eventual winners Aces coached by Portland Trail Blazers Assistant Video Coordinator, Ikenna Smart, claiming the bragging rights, while for the boys, the Hawks, coached by Assistant Coach…

Aug

08

2024

By SILALEI SHANI, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Performances from Nigeria and South Sudan at the Paris Olympics mark a new chapter in African basketball

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WHEN Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, pulled off a historic upset in women’s basketball with a 75-62 defeat of Australia’s Opals in their opening game, the win resounded through African basketball. Closing out the first half with a 13-point lead and on the back of Ezinne Kalu’s 19 points, Nigeria managed to hold off the Opals until the final quarter when Australia cut down the lead to make it a one-possession game with 4 minutes left on the clock. Amy Okwonkwo, who currently plays for French basketball club Bourges, delivered a clutch 3, allowing Nigeria to go on another run…

Aug

02

2024

By The African Mirror

Warriors’ Moody and Raptors quickly headline NBA players to coach top prospects at Basketball Without Borders Africa 2024

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THE National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) have announced 60 of the top high-school-age prospects from across Africa who will participate in the 20th edition of the Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Africa camp, which will be held at the American International School of Johannesburg (AISJ) in South Africa from Saturday, August 3 to Tuesday, August 6. BWB Africa 2024 will host 60 boys and girls from 24 African countries – including five NBA Academy Africa prospects – to learn directly from current and former NBA, WNBA and FIBA players, legends and coaches and compete alongside their…

Jul

25

2024

By SILALEI SHANI, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Toure breaks FIBA U17 record, Nairobi City Thunder win Kenyan league, FUS Rabat clinch Moroccan title

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HISTORY was made at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup as Guinea’s Abdouramane Toure tied the record for the most points in a single U17 World Cup Game. Despite the team’s 105-101 loss to China, Toure scored a staggering 50 points. The forward made 21 of 27 field goal attempts, including 6 of 11 from beyond the arc, and 2 of 2 free throws. “It feels good. I wish we would have gotten that W(in). It would have felt way better. It means a lot, but it doesn’t mean as much as I wish it did with the win,” Toure…