Whiteside to play in NBA Africa Game
MIAMI — Hassan Whiteside will be among the players to participate in this year’s Africa Game, an Aug. 4 exhibition featuring NBA players in Pretoria, South Africa, the league announced Thursday.
The event, which previous years featured Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and former Heat forward Luol Deng, will feature a Team Africa vs. Team World Format.
Among those scheduled to be alongside Whiteside on Team World will be Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan, Dallas Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes, Los Angeles Clippers forward Danilo Gallinari, San Antonio Spurs forward Rudy Gay and Milwaukee Bucks guard Khris Middleton, among others.
Among those featured on Team Africa are scheduled to be Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (Cameroon), Portland Trail Blazers forward Al-Farouq Aminu (parents from Nigeria), Orlando Magic center Bismack Biyombo (Democratic Republic of the Congo), New Orleans Pelicans forward Cheick Diallo (Mali), Magic forward Evan Fournier (parent from Algeria), Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka (Republic of the Congo), 76ers swingman Timothe LuwawuCabarrot (parent from Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (Cameroon).
The Whiteside-Embiid matchup could prove particularly intriguing, with the two having spent the past year trading on-line and verbal barbs, including during the 76ers’ first-round playoff ouster of the Heat last season.
The NBA Africa Game 2018 will take place following the 16th edition of Basketball Without Borders Africa. In honor of the centenary of Nelson Mandela, the game will be played in support of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
The Heat currently are being represented by big man Kelly Olynyk at the NBA’s outreach in India.
Howard interview
The Sun Sentinel has confirmed that assistant coach Juwan Howard has been granted permission by the Heat to interview for the Detroit Pistons’ coaching vacancy.
Howard, 45, has served as an assistant to Spoelstra the past five seasons after finishing his playing career with the team.
The Pistons are seeking a replacement for former Heat coach Stan Van Gundy, who recently was dismissed as coach and team president. Howard previously interviewed for the New York Knicks’ coaching vacancy that instead went to former Heat coach David Fizdale.
Heat executive Shane Battier had been among the Detroit front-office candidates to help replace Van Gundy, before withdrawing his candidacy.
Spoelstra said at season’s end that he could envision Howard eventually moving on to a lead role elsewhere, but did not specifically mention this coming season.
Howard, who coaches the Heat’s big men, has previously served as coach of the Heat’s summer-league team.
Dan Craig served as Spoelstra’s lead assistant coach this season, with Spoelstra also assisted by Chris Quinn, Octavio De La Grana and Howard.
Spoelstra said he eventually envisions video coordinator Eric Glass joining his coaching staff, with Glass possibly to coach the Heat’s summer-league teams in July.
Moving on
Olynyk will be among 18 players training this summer with the Canadian senior men’s national team, as they attempt to qualify for the 2019 World Cup.
Among those joining Olynyk, who has been a staple of Canada’s national program, are Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, former Heat prospect Khem Birch, former No. 1 NBA draft pick Anthony Bennett and Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson, who will transition from the NBA Finals.
The Canadian camp opens June 30 in Richmond, B.C. The team will play a June 22 exhibition in Vancouver against China, before opening qualifications June 29 in Toronto against the Dominican Republic.