Basketball is among the most popular sports in Africa. The continent has produced some top talents that have graced the world’s grandest basketball events. If you check the data from any online sportsbook operating in Africa, you will find many sports betting fans who love betting on basketball. The popularity of the NBA in the continent is set to continue to rise after it extended its operations to the continent.
Great African Basketballers
Some great basketball players that were drafted into the NBA from Africa also played a key role in popularizing the NBA in Africa. For example, ManuteBol got drafted by the Washington Bullets in 1985. Bol donated a considerable portion of his salary to support poverty eradication initiatives in Sudan. Upon his death in 2010, former senator Sam Brownback claimed that he could not think of a celebrity who used their status for the greater good than Bol.
Bol rose against all odds to play college basketball in the US, and scouts noticed his talents. The NBA has followed in his footsteps and is taking part in global initiatives working on poverty eradication projects in Africa. It has created the Basketball Africa League that aims to stimulate local economies and foster international relations.
Global Expansion of the NBA
The NBA has established itself as the premier basketball league. It operates in a multi-billion dollar environment where players receive millions in salary, massive TV deals, and merchandise sales. But, most of this revenue is based in the US. It started expanding its operations in 1995 by creating the Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies to enter Canada.
The expansion efforts have seen the league continue to attract top talents from around the world. For instance, MVP GiannisAntetokounmpo was born in Greece to Nigerian parents. Other stars from Africa include Pascal Siakam and Joel Embiid.
Besides the efforts by the NBA, some players also played a key role in popularizing the league in Africa. For example, NBA Hall of Famer MotomboDikembe, who comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, established his own foundation called the DikembeMutombo Foundation. The foundation promotes healthcare and education in his native country, Congo. His efforts inspired another NBA player BismackBiyombo who also runs a foundation that provides Congolese children with opportunities in sports and education.
Basketball Africa League
The NBA announced in 2019 its first collaboration with the International Basketball Federation to establish the Basketball Africa League (BAL). This was a huge step in the NBA’s contribution towards poverty eradication. The move also played a huge role in increasing its popularity in the continent.
BAL is the premier basketball league on the continent. Initially, professional basketball was only played at the country level. BAL comprises teams from the entire continent, with 12 teams from 32 countries. The league has already attracted massive investments from corporations like Nike and Pepsi to ensure its success.
The Popularity of the NBA Is Increasing
The efforts by the NBA have made the brand increasingly popular in the continent. In the past, many Africans regarded basketball as a luxury sport because it requires expensive facilities. However, efforts by BAL will help in infrastructural investments making the sport more accessible to many. As the BAL continues to take shape in the continent, the NBA will soon be a household name in the African villages.