NBA players with direct ties to Africa are set to play in a world team next month. The association announced Friday that the third NBA Africa Game will be in Pretoria, South Africa.
This is the 16th edition of Basketball Without Borders Africa. Previous games in 2015 and 2017 were sell-outs.
In honor of Nelson Mandela’s centenary year, the game will be played in support of the South African president’s foundation.
Some NBA players competing for Team Africa on August 4th at the Sun Arena include Bismack Biyombo of the Charlotte Hornets, who has ties to the Democratic Republic of the Congo; he is also acting as a co-captain. Joel Embiid, another co-captain, plays for the 76ers and is of Cameroonian descent. Los Angeles Lakers’ player Luol Deng was born in South Sudan.
According to the NBA, over 80 current and former NBA players have direct ties to the continent.
Rudy Gay, an American that plays for the San Antonio Spurs and Khris Middleton, and American playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, are both serving as co-captains for Team World. The team also features Harrison Barnes of the Dallas Mavericks and Italian-born player Danilo Gallinari of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Players Association Executive Director Michele Roberts and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will be in attendance of the game, as will Hall of Famer Jareen Abdul-Jabbar, NBA Global Ambassador, among others.
Team Africa
- Al-Farouq Aminu (Portland Trail Blazers, U.S., parents from Nigeria)
- Bismack Biyombo (Charlotte Hornets, Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- Cheick Diallo (New Orleans Pelicans, Mali), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers; Cameroon)
- Evan Fournier (Orlando Magic; France; parent from Algeria)
- Serge Ibaka (Toronto Raptors, Republic of the Congo)
- Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (Oklahoma City Thunder
- France, parent from the Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- Pascal Siakam (Raptors, Cameroon)
- Luol Deng (Los Angeles Lakers, South Sudan)
- Ian Mahinmi (Washington Wizards, France; parent from Benin)
Team World
- Harrison Barnes (Dallas Mavericks, U.S.)
- Danilo Gallinari (LA Clippers, Italy)
- Rudy Gay (San Antonio Spurs, U.S.)
- Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks, U.S.)
- Hassan Whiteside (Miami Heat; U.S.)
- John Collins (Atlanta Hawks, U.S.)
- JaVale McGee (Los Angeles Lakers, U.S.)
- Dennis Smith Jr. (Dallas Mavericks, U.S.)
- Marvin Williams (Charlotte Hornets, U.S.)
This news comes after the debate sparked by Daily Show host’s Trevor Noah’s joke regarding identity and nationality.
Featured Image via Flickr.
