Basketball’s ‘Trevor Noah’ returns to his roots for popular NBA Africa Game

THEY do things big in the NBA, where players who are 2m tall and wear size 16 shoes are considered “average”.

Some of the giants of the National Basketball Association will tower over Johannesburg in the second NBA Africa Game at the Ticketpro Dome on August 5.

The first instalment, in 2015, was successful with African NBA legends Dikembe Mutombo and Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon on court.

They were largely responsible for Africa’s roots in the NBA and the popularity of basketball on the continent.

Since Olajuwon’s debut for the Houston Rockets in 1984, more than 70 players of African origin have played in the NBA.

The “local” drawcard for this year’s NBA Africa Game is expected to be Thabo Sefolosha, who has been dubbed “basketball’s Trevor Noah”.

Sefolosha was born in Switzerland to Christine, an artist, and Patrick, a musician from Mamelodi.

He will co- captain Team Africa with South Sudan’s Luol Deng from the Los Angeles Lakers.

Former NBA most valuable player, Dirk Nowitzki from the Dallas Mavericks, will co-captain Team World with Kemba Walker from the Charlotte Hornets.

Sefolosha, 33, is expected to arrive in South Africa in high spirits, having this week signed a two-year deal with the Utah Jazz worth a reported $10.2 million (R133m).

“Having South African roots, it’s a dream come true to return to South Africa to play in an NBA game. There are so many talented African players in the league and it will be an honour to lead them on August 5 in Joburg,” he said.

Senegal’s Amadou Gallo Fall has behind the NBA’s presence in Africa and who has overseen the growth of the game on the continent.

Fall, a former centre for the University of the District of Columbia, spent 12 years with the Dallas Mavericks as the team’s director of player personnel and vice-president of international affairs.

“We had big ambitions when we opened the NBA Africa office in Joburg in May 2010, and essentially built a business from scratch. We knew we were building on a long history of African involvement with the NBA,” said Fall, who is the NBA’s vice-president and managing director for Africa.

“There’s never been a question about African interest in the game. Basketball is the No 2 (most popular) sport in the world and the NBA is a top brand... for me the best and most professional sports league in the world in terms of our approach in making sure our brand exudes flair and the ‘cool factor’ young people all over the world are so attracted to.

“What we needed to do was have a presence and boots on the ground to build the game of basketball on the African continent and that’s what we’ve done.”

Fall said the NBA has been looking to build on the success of the inaugural NBA Africa Game. This year, Africans Serge Ibaka from the Toronto Raptors and the Orlando Magic’s Bismack Biyombo join Sefolosha and Deng against Team World, who will boast DeMarcus Cousins from the New Orleans Pelicans and the New York Knicks’ Kristaps Porzingis from Latvia.

“We have a bigger venue, a bigger presence from the rest of the African continent and we’ve expanded our African footprint by playing Junior NBA Finals in places like Morocco and the Ivory Coast,” Fall said.

“Our league’s players are wonderful ambassadors and represent the brand very well. They’re young, smart, educated people who have the ability to make a real impact on communities.”

A sell-out crowd is expected at the Dome on August 5.

The NBA will host its Basketball Without Borders camp ahead of the game, as well as activities in Phokeng in the North West, where successful development camps have garnered industry awards.

Those who aren’t able to score a ticket to the game can enjoy the NBA experience at a fan zone in Rosebank, which will feature entertainment and player appearances, as well as slam dunk and free-throw competitions.