NBA Africa - The African Mirror

Apr

2024

NBA Africa-Africell collaboration points to the growing influence of private sector in Africa sport

THE recent unveiling of a new indoor basketball court by NBA Africa and Angolan telecoms company Africell is another example of how private sector partnerships are helping to fast-forward sports development across Africa, while governments are missing the opportunity, according to a Nigerian sports analyst. Sports and entertainment expert Adedamilola Adedotun, lead sports strategist at The Temple in Nigeria, explained that partnerships with non-state entities in the sports sector are key to unleashing Africa's sports potential. "Sports infrastructure gaps would have been an ideal investment opportunity for governments to leverage to drive economic growth… what they lack, in my opinion,…

Dec

2023

By SILALEI SHANI, BIRD STORY AGENCY

bird’s African Basketball Wrap: Kenya upsets Egypt at the FIBA Africa Cup 3×3 games, NBA legend Ron Harper visits Kenya for NBA Africa office launch; Afrobasket qualifiers draw in Johannesburg

BASKETBALL

KENYA Women's 3x3 senior national team upset the reigning champions at the recently concluded FIBA Africa Cup 2023 competition in Cairo, Egypt. The Kenyans took the title with a 21-20 buzzer beater by Kenya Ports Authority player Natalie Mwangale. Kenya and Egypt were both undefeated heading into the final game, with Egypt dominating for the better part of the final game. Then despite Egypt's 19-13 lead, Kenya mounted a comeback, with the win sealed by Mwangale’s crucial two-point shot in the final second. Team manager Nellie Odera praised the outstanding performance of the 4-woman team, which included Mwangale, Hilda Indasi,…

Dec

2023

By BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

NBA Africa expands in the East

BASKETBALL

NBA Africa has established a subsidiary in Nairobi, adding a fifth office to a network that includes Cairo, Johannesburg, Dakar, and Lagos. According to NBA Africa/s new CEO, Victor Williams, the NBA Kenya office will bolster basketball within the country, especially in the school curriculum. “We want to train more teachers and coaches in the game to strengthen the administration of the game by also offering clinics to referees. We also want to work with prospective partners who see the game as a vehicle to engage young people,” Williams explained. The NBA launch event on November 29th included a junior…

Nov

2023

By The African Mirror

NBA Africa’s first original docuseries “Born & Bred” premieres on NBA App

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

NBA Africa has announced that its first original documentary series “Born & Bred” has premiered on the NBA App. The five-part series tells the stories of five current and former NBA Academy Africa prospects from Angola, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Sudan through exclusive footage and interviews with the prospects, family members, friends, and coaches. “Born & Bred,” which features Nigeria’s Rueben Chinyelu, Egypt’s Seifeldin Hendawy, South Sudan’s Khaman Maluach, Senegal’s Khadim Rassoul Mboup, and Angola’s Aginaldo Neto, spotlights each prospect’s basketball journey, including the communities where they were raised and the moments that have shaped them as players and…

Sep

2021

By The African Mirror

FIBA holds Youth Camp in Kenya

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO UNDER-18 players from 33 African countries gathered in Nairobi, Kenya for the first International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Africa Youth Camp of 2021. The FIBA Africa Youth Camp in Nairobi, the first of three on the African continent, allowed players to gain experience and skills from National Basketball Association (NBA) coaches. The FIBA Africa Youth Camp focused on life skills, focusing on combining basketball and education, leadership, character development, health and wellness. The technical team is led by Don Showalter (USA Basketball), Naoufal Uariachi (FIBA Expert) and other African basketball experts. "As part of FIBA Africa's strategy to make our…

Sep

2021

By The African Mirror

How Obama’s backing for NBA Africa venture could boost basketball on the continent

SPORT

FORMER US President Barack Obama’s decision to invest in the National Basketball Association’s Africa venture reflects a lot about his past – his basketball playing youth and his African roots. It also signals that his future ambitions stretch beyond US borders. JOHN NAURIGHT, Dean, Richard J. Bolte, Sr. School of Business, Mount St. Mary's University, Mount Saint Mary College SARAH ZIPP, Lecturer, Faculty of Health Science and Sport, University of Stirling The Basketball Africa League was launched in 2021 as a collaboration between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). The inaugural competition consisted of 12…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Obama joins NBA Africa as strategic partner

NEWS

FORMER U.S. President Barack Obama has joined NBA Africa as a strategic partner to help advance social responsibility efforts across the continent, the National Basketball Association has announced. Obama will have a minority equity stake in the new venture, which over time he intends to use to fund Obama Foundation youth and leadership programs across Africa. "By investing in communities, promoting gender equality, and cultivating the love of the game of basketball, I believe that NBA Africa can make a difference for so many of Africa's young people," Obama said in a news release. "I've been impressed by the league's…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

New boss for basketball in Africa

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO THE world’s leading basketball league, National Basketball Association (NBA), has announced Victor Williams as the new CEO of NBA Africa. Williams, fulfilling a newly created role, will oversee and be responsible for growing the NBA business and basketball development initiatives in Africa. This was announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver who praised Williams as an accomplished investment banker with extensive experience growing businesses across the U.S. and Africa. "Adding an executive of Victor’s calibre and experience is an important step in our continued efforts to grow basketball across the continent,” said Silver. "We look forward to Victor leading…

Jul

2020

By The African Mirror

Meet Africa’s Mr Basketball

SPORT

BOITUMELO RANTAO FOR the majority of basketball players in Africa, their only hope of creating a career out of basketball is to seek a change of scenery and travel overseas. For others, basketball can be used to better the current situation by seizing opportunities to better schools that might have not been available before. Football was known as the clear-cut favourite as Senegal’s No.1 sport, but the growing presence of basketball could not be ignored. Though hard to find the facilities, and at a time when courts were not readily available. One youngster had just received a basketball from his…