While the NBA tipped off its 75th season on Tuesday night, this season will not only focus on the growth of basketball in America, but also its burgeoning imprint in Africa.
The league has made sizable progress in Africa since holding its first Basketball Without Borders camp in Johannesburg in 2003, illustrated by all 54 countries on the continent now having access to NBA games.
What is NBA Africa doing for the 75th anniversary of the league?
We on the continent are very excited about the 75th anniversary of the NBA. And one of the ways in which we’ve chosen to recognize that is to identify the 75 most significant moments of the NBA’s history in Africa. And so we’ve worked internally and with friends in [the NBA] to identify those 75 moments of the NBA’s history in Africa. And we’re going to start releasing those this week and continue doing so all throughout the season, all the way to the Finals. And so it would be a great opportunity for our fans to relive some of the most memorable moments, including occasions like keep Hakeem [Olajuwon] being drafted No. 1, Dikembe [Mutombo] being drafted, Nneka Ogwumike being drafted in the WNBA, and we’ll go through various events, ultimately culminating in the release of the top 10 moments.
