Organisers pick six more players for NBA Africa game

The National Basketball Association (NBA) yesterday named six additional players to join eight-time NBA All-Star, Chris Paul and two-time NBA All-Star, Luol Deng, in the NBA Africa Game 2015 scheduled for August 1 at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Oklahoma City Thunder’s forward Serge Ibaka of Congo-Brazzaville and Minnesota Timberwolves’ center Gorgui Dieng of Senegal will represent Team Africa captained by Luol Deng, with Washington Wizards’ guard Bradley Beal and Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried joining Chris Paul in Team World.

Serge Ibaka and Gorgui Dieng are currently in Ghana participating in Sprite Ball Clinics in Accra and Cape Coast.

According to the NBA, tickets for the game have already go on sale for the game, which is in support of Boys and Girls Clubs of South Africa, SOS Children’s Villages Association of South Africa and the Nelson Mandela Foundation.  The game will air live in Africa on SuperSport.

The game will take place following the 13th edition of Basketball without Borders (BWB) Africa, the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development programme that has reached 1,000 campers from 31 African countries since 2003.  Basketball without Borders Africa will be held July 29 to August 1 at the American International School in Johannesburg.

The NBA has a long history in Africa with more than 35 players from the continent featured on NBA rosters since Hakeem Olajuwon was drafted in 1984.  Through NBA Cares, 58 places to live, learn or play have been created in Africa, and Basketball without Borders Africa has been held 12 times on the continent.