- Title: BASKETBALL-SOUTH AFRICA/NBA NBA stars prepare for Johannesburg game
- Date: 31st July 2015
- Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JULY 31, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MEMBERS OF 'TEAM WORLD' TRAINING ON BASKETBALL COURT BOSTON CELTIC'S EVAN TURNER SHOOTING HOOPS DENVER NUGGETS' KENNETH FARIED PRACTISING SHOOTING VARIOUS OF CHICAGO BULLS' SPANISH FORWARD PAU GASOL TRAINING MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES' JEFF GREEN SHOOTING HOOPS BALL GOING INTO HOOP (SOUNDBITE) (English) TEAM WORLD CAPT
- Embargoed: 15th August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAJQPSTYK72KZ3L3M8INMNQ2G6
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Some of the National Basketball Association's best players were training in Johannesburg on Friday (July 31), ahead of the first ever NBA Africa match at Ellis Park.
The game will see Team World, lead by Los Angeles Clipper Chris Paul, take on Team Africa, captained by Miami Heat forward Luol Deng.
Basketball is becoming an increasingly international sport, as reflected by some of the games top players, such as Spain's Pau Gasol or Nigerian Festus Ezeli, coming to play the exhibition match in Africa for the first time.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has said this week that this match could be the first of many, hinting that a regular season game could be played in Africa in the near-future.
Although soccer remains the most popular sport on the continent, basketball has a strong following, something the NBA is looking to build on as it increases its international reach.
The match also gives the players the chance to encourage young South Africans to take up the game.
Paul said that the sporting aspect of the game was secondary.
"Basketball has actually been secondary on this trip," said the Clippers guard.
"It's been more so about getting out and seeing the people and me an Luol (Deng) had an opportunity yesterday to go over to Soweto and see some of the kids and talk to them. It really shows you that this game of basketball is global - sports has no race, has no language, it is just one of those things that brings everyone together," he added.
Team Africa, who are coached by San Antonio Spurs' inspirational Gregg Popovich, contain players with close African roots, including captain Deng, who was born in South Sudan before growing up in Great Britain.
"The goal is really growing the game," said Deng. "I think if we really want to encourage the young kids and believe in themselves, it just what we all want. And the fact that the game is here, I think in the future they will be more games. It is really a huge step for the game."
35 players from Africa have appeared in the NBA. The first African player to play in the NBA was Hall of Famer and two-time NBA champion Hakeem Olajuwon who grew up in Nigeria before being drafted by the Houston Rockets in 1984.
The hope will be that events such as this inspire more young Africans to take up the game. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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