NBA’s Basketball Africa League Unveils Host Cities, Nike, Jordan As Official Partners
By Barry Janoff
July 30, 2019: In February, stating that the continent has a “huge economic engine” to develop the game of basketball, the NBA and FIBA, the world governing body for basketball, unveiled plans to form a 12-team pro league in Africa.
The Basketball Africa League has now unveiled the host cities where the inaugural BAL regular season, beginning in March 2020, would take place: Cairo (Egypt), Dakar (Senegal), Lagos (Nigeria), Luanda (Angola), Rabat (Morocco) and either Monastir or Tunis (Tunisia).
Kigali (Rwanda) was named host city for the first BAL Final Four and BAL Final.
In addition, the BAL said that Nike and Jordan Brand have signed on as the league’s first marketing partners, to be the exclusive outfitters for the pro league, each outfitting six of the 12 teams from across Africa.
Nike and Jordan Brand will supply official game uniforms, warmup apparel, socks and practice gear.
It was not indicated whether there would be an official shoe deal and how many other official NBA partners might align with the BAL.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
“Today’s announcements mark another important milestone as we head into what will be a historic first season for the Basketball Africa League,” BAL president Amadou Gallo Fall said via the league.
“We now have seven great host cities where we will play and our first partnership with a world-class outfitter. We thank our first partners Nike and Jordan Brand for supporting us on this journey and ensuring our teams have the best uniforms and oncourt products.”
In February, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said that former President Barack Obama qas among those who want to have “direct involvement” with the Basketball Africa League.
Although the NBA has a footprint worldwide, this would be its first direct involvement with a professional basketball league outside of North America.
The NBA has played three games on the continent since 2015, including this past August in Pretoria, South Africa, where the NBA has an office.
Of the players on opening night roosters this past season, 13 were born in Africa , according to the NBA.
Silver said the NBA and FIBA would have a financial investment and offer resources for the league, its infrastructure and growing the game on the continent.
The two organizations would also provide training for players, coaches and referees.
"We thank our first partners Nike and Jordan Brand for supporting us on this journey and ensuring our teams have the best uniforms and oncourt products.”
Silver said there are more than 400 companies in Africa that generate more than $1 billion annually that potentially could become part of the project.
Beginning in March 2020, the six cities will host a regular season that will feature 12 teams divided into two conferences, with each conference playing in three cities.
The regular season will see the 12 teams play five games each (for a total of 30 games), with the top three teams in each conference qualifying for the playoffs.
The six playoff teams — the “Super 6” — will play in a round-robin format to determine the four teams that will advance to the BAL Final Four and BAL Final in late spring 2020.
The BAL Final Four and BAL Final will be single-elimination games.
Additional details about the BAL will be follow at a later date.
NBA, FIBA, With President Obama, Marketers, Plan Basketball Africa League
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