NBA announces NBA Africa Game 2017 partners

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) has announced Kwesé Sports, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa, Castle Lite, General Electric, Solektra International, Marriott International and 947 as official partners of NBA Africa Game 2017.

The partner roster represents the most ever for the NBA in Africa.

The second NBA game in Africa will take place on Saturday, 5 August 2017 at the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg, South Africa.

NBA Africa Game 2017, which will take place following the 15th edition of Basketball without Borders (BWB) Africa, will once again feature a Team Africa vs Team World format and will be played in support of UNICEF, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and SOS Children’s Villages South Africa (SOSCVSA).

The game will air LIVE in sub-Saharan Africa on Kwesé’s TV, internet and mobile platforms, including Kwesé Free Sports, Kwesé Sports, select free-to-air channels, Kwesesports.com, and the Kwesé app.

As the official broadcast and marketing partner of NBA Africa Game 2017, Kwesé Sports is also the NBA’s exclusive broadcast partner in sub-Saharan Africa and continues to amplify the NBA’s efforts to grow basketball across sub-Saharan Africa through its broadcast and mobile platforms.

“This blue-chip roster of partners for the second NBA Africa Game is a testament to the growth of basketball and the NBA brand across the continent,” said NBA vice president and managing director for Africa, Amadou Gallo Fall. “These likeminded partners also share our mission to improve the lives of young people and will work with us to amplify the impact of the game of basketball throughout Africa.”

“Kwesé Sports is the exclusive home of basketball in sub-Saharan Africa, and we are excited to once again partner with the NBA on this game,” said Econet Media president and chief executive officer Joseph Hundah. “Sports are important for development on the continent, and access is a critical aspect of growing sports in Africa. Our pan-African broadcast capability delivered across our various broadcast and mobile platforms extends the reach of basketball, exposing more fans to the beautiful game.”

Team Africa, which is headlined by Bismack Biyombo (Orlando Magic; Democratic Republic of Congo) and Emmanuel Mudiay (Denver Nuggets; Democratic Republic of Congo), will comprise players from Africa and second-generation African players. Team World, headlined by CJ McCollum (Portland Trail Blazers; U.), will consist of players from the rest of the world.

Full rosters of players, coaches and NBA greats, along with ticket information, will be announced at a later date.