NBA bringing the big stage to Joburg again

THE NBA’s big boss, Adam Silver, said the enthusiasm South Africans showed for the inaugural “Africa Game” in 2015, meant it was inevitable that the organisation would host a second event in Johannesburg.

Silver, the NBA’s commissioner, announced on Saturday, that the NBA would be returning to the “City of Gold” with another Africa Game to be held at the Northgate Dome on August 5. Two years ago, the Ellis Park Arena played host to the NBA’s first-ever game on African soil featuring some of the league’s top stars playing for a World Team against Team Africa that contained the leading talent from the continent.

“The first thing we learnt from 2015 was that we could have played in a venue four times the size we used then,” said Silver.

“It’s such a rare occasion to bring NBA players and an NBA game to Africa, we (felt) we could sell as many tickets and seats as we have if we found a larger venue. We don’t want to play in too large a venue, because it takes away the experience of a basketball game.”

Silver explained that he was surprised by the level of interest shown for the game in 2015.

“When we were in Johannesburg (in 2015) we knew it would be a big story, I didn’t realise what a big story it would be throughout Africa,” said Silver. “We all met at least 20 ministers of sport from other African countries, who had come and attended the game and all of them wanted to tell us to schedule a game in their country.

“Our office is based in Johannesburg, so it makes more sense (to have the game there) because there’s more of an infrastructure in place.”

The NBA confirmed that three players had already signed up for the event; Bismack Biyombo will make a second appearance. He will be joined by his Congolese countryman Emmanuel Mudiay and CJ McCollum, who will represent the World Team.

“Every time we go home we realise we are heroes to these kids and we want to help them achieve different goals, and not just in sport but outside of it, beyond basketball. It’s a tremendous opportunity for the growth of the game in Africa,” said Biyombo, who is currently plying his trade for Orlando Magic.

The executive director of the NBA Players Association, Michelle Roberts said the Africa Game was significant for the players who took very seriously their role in spreading the game beyond the borders of the US. “Apart from enjoying the experience of going to a different country, the players understand that it’s their responsibility as well to grow the game,” said Roberts. “What I enjoyed two years ago was seeing the players engage with their African brothers and understanding that continent in ways they hadn’t before.”

Silver said the possibility of hosting a pre-season game or even a regular-season NBA game was probably still some way off, but the impetus provided by the second Africa Game would drive local authorities to creating the means to enable that to occur in the future.

“That’s always our ambition, we’ve seen that we can do it in terms of pre-season even with all the travel. However, the infrastructure isn’t quite in place yet for doing a pre-season game,” said Silver.

NBA vice president and managing director for Africa, Amadou Gallo Fall, hoped the necessary facilities could be created. “In order to attract these marquee events, there is a need to build the infrastructure and governments and the private sector can see that and see that enthusiasm, in my mind there is no question that (a pre-season or regular season game) will happen,” said Fall.

For now, South Africans will have to be content with an exhibition game. Ticket prices for the event will be announced in due course.