—Tournament Holds In South Africa On August 1
Nigeria’s senior national basketball team player, Al-Farouq Aminu, and Golden State Warriors star Festus Ezeli have been selected to play for Africa in the first ever NBA Africa tournament billed to hold in South Africa on August 1.
Aminu recently signed a four-year deal worth $30m with National Basketball Association side, Portland Trail Blazers, in the United States of America.
The tournament which will pit African players against players from other parts of the world playing in the NBA, is the first to be held on African soil and the idea is to make every part of the world feel what the NBA is all about.
The game scheduled for the Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg, South Africa, is organised in support of boys and girls Clubs of South Africa, SOS Children’s Villages Association of South Africa and the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
Al-Farouq will play alongside Africa captain and two-time NBA All-Star Luol Deng (Miami Heat, Great Britain, born in South Sudan), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks; Greece; parents from Nigeria), Nicolas Batum (Charlotte Hornets; France; parents from Cameroon), Bismack Biyombo (Toronto Raptors; Democratic Republic of the Congo), Boris Diaw (San Antonio Spurs; France; parents from Senegal), Gorgui Dieng (Minnesota Timberwolves; Senegal), Festus Ezeli (Golden State Warriors; Nigeria), Serge Ibaka (Oklahoma City Thunder; Congo), and Luc Mbah a Moute (Sacramento Kings; Cameroon).
Team World is comprised of eight-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers; USA.), Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards; USA.), Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets; USA.), Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies; Spain), Pau Gasol (Chicago Bulls; Spain), Jeff Green (Memphis Grizzlies; USA.), Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics; USA.), Evan Turner (Boston Celtics; USA.) and Nikola Vucevic (Orlando Magic; Montenegro).
Five-time NBA Champion, Gregg Popovich will coach Team Africa while Brooklyn Nets Coach, Lionel Hollins, will coach Team World.
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