Andrew Pace
Basketball, invented by Dr. James Naismith in 1891, spread like wildfire across the world, including Africa, where it was introduced in the middle of the 20th century by missionaries and colonial administrations. The sport is rapidly growing on the continent, with the National Basketball Association (NBA) leading the way in investing in African basketball. The NBA's interest in Africa as a future talent hotspot was sparked by the success of Nigerian-born Hakeem Olajuwon, a two-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer. The league has since invested in African talent, with 16 African-born players currently in the NBA, including league MVP Joel Embiid. The NBA has also established the Basketball Africa League (BAL), a continental professional basketball league co-organized with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), which held its inaugural season in 2021.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of African-born players in the NBA | 16 |
| Number of countries with Giants of Africa camps | 15 |
| Number of BAL seasons | 4 |
| Number of teams in each BAL season | 12 |
| Number of conferences in the BAL | 3 |
| Number of countries the BAL reaches fans in | 214 |
| Number of languages the BAL is broadcast in | 17 |
| Number of countries the NBA has partners in | 6 |
| Number of teams from the same country as a BAL team | 1 |
| Number of BAL teams | 30 |
| Number of countries BAL teams are from | 21 |
| Number of BAL champions | 4 |
| Number of BAL Elevate players | 1 |
| Number of BAL Elevate players who win prize money | 0 |
| Number of former BAL players drafted into the NBA | 1 |
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What You'll Learn
Hakeem Olajuwon's stardom catalysed NBA's interest in Africa
Basketball is a rapidly growing sport on the African continent. While football remains Africa's most popular sport, foreign investors, led by the NBA, are betting on basketball's potential to compete with football in the near future. The NBA's interest in Africa was sparked by the success of Nigerian-born Hakeem Olajuwon, widely considered the best African player of all time.
Olajuwon's journey from Lagos, Nigeria, to the United States is an inspiring tale of talent and determination. After discovering basketball at the age of 15, he quickly showcaseed his talent on the court. In 1980, he ventured to the US to pursue a college education and develop his basketball skills at the University of Houston, where he played for the Houston Cougars under coach Guy Lewis. Olajuwon's raw talent soon transformed him into a shining superstar in the NBA.
Olajuwon was selected first overall in the 1984 NBA draft, ahead of Michael Jordan. He went on to have a stellar career, winning back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995 with the Houston Rockets, earning the MVP award in 1994, and being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008. His popularity and success catalysed the growth of basketball in Africa, much like Yao Ming's impact on the sport in China.
Olajuwon's stardom inspired many Africans to pursue basketball as a career and encouraged the NBA to view Africa as a future talent hotspot. As Victor Williams, the current CEO of NBA Africa, stated, "Hakeem's example inspired so many other Africans to now start thinking of basketball as a career, as an opportunity, and inspired people in the NBA to think of Africa as a place where the game could grow." Olajuwon's influence extended beyond his on-court achievements, as he also successfully ventured into business, amassing a net worth of $300 million and becoming one of the richest NBA players globally.
The NBA has actively invested in African basketball, establishing NBA Africa and partnering with former US President Barack Obama, actor Forest Whitaker, author Dambisa Moyo, and former NBA players. The league also opened the NBA Academy Africa in Saly, Senegal, in 2018, to streamline and professionalize the development of Africa's top basketball prospects. The creation of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) in 2019, co-organized by NBA Africa and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), further demonstrates the NBA's commitment to growing the sport on the continent.
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The NBA is investing in African basketball
The NBA also co-founded the Basketball Africa League (BAL) in 2019, in partnership with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). The BAL is a professional men's basketball league in Africa, with 12 teams participating each season. The league consists of three conferences, with each team playing the others in a round-robin format. The group stage is followed by playoffs to determine the champions, who automatically qualify for the FIBA Intercontinental Cup.
The NBA has also partnered with former US President Barack Obama, actor Forest Whitaker, author Dambisa Moyo, and former NBA players like Luol Deng, Grant Hill, and Dikembe Mutombo, to further develop basketball in Africa. The NBA Africa Elevate program, launched in 2022, places a player from the academy on one of the BAL team rosters.
The NBA's investment in Africa is driven by the recognition of the continent as a future talent hotspot, with African players like Hakeem Olajuwon, Joel Embiid, Pascal Siakam, and Serge Ibaka already making their mark in the league. Masai Ujiri, President of the Toronto Raptors and the first African general manager in the NBA, has also been instrumental in growing the sport in Africa through his Giants of Africa camps, which have expanded to 15 countries across the continent.
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Giants of Africa camps are expanding across the continent
Basketball is a rapidly growing sport on the African continent, with the National Basketball Association (NBA) leading the way in investing in African basketball. The NBA's interest in the continent as a future talent hotspot was sparked by the success of Nigerian-born Hakeem Olajuwon, who is widely considered the best African player of all time.
Masai Ujiri, President of the Toronto Raptors and the first and only African general manager of a North American major league sports franchise, is also actively involved in growing the sport of basketball in Africa through his Giants of Africa camps. The camps, co-founded with Godwin Owinje in 2003, began as a single camp in Nigeria and have since expanded to 15 countries across the continent. Giants of Africa has also bolstered corporate sponsorships with brands like Nike and 2K Foundations.
Each Giants of Africa camp is led by NBA personnel and local coaches who conduct basketball training and life skills lessons for boys and girls. The impact of these camps extends beyond basketball, as many participants have gone on to achieve success in various career paths. The organisation believes that a court is more than just a court—it can uplift a community, unite youth, and provide job opportunities. In 2021, Giants of Africa committed to building 100 courts throughout Africa.
Giants of Africa's efforts are supported by dedicated partners and donors committed to helping them reach more youth in more countries across the African continent and worldwide. Their work was the subject of a 2016 film titled "Giants of Africa".
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The Basketball Africa League (BAL) was founded in 2019
The inaugural BAL season was scheduled to begin in 2020, but it was postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first BAL game finally took place on May 16, 2021, in Kigali, Rwanda. The league consists of twelve teams, with seven qualifying directly through their performance in their domestic competitions, while the remaining five qualify through the "Road to BAL" tournament. The group stage is divided into three conferences, followed by playoffs to determine the champions. The champions of each BAL season automatically qualify for the FIBA Intercontinental Cup.
The BAL has attracted private investments from various sources, including former NBA players and notable figures such as former U.S. President Barack Obama, who joined as a strategic partner and purchased a minority stake in NBA Africa. The league has faced criticism from the Human Rights Foundation for its close ties to the Rwandan government, led by Paul Kagame.
The BAL has already completed four seasons, with the 2025 season being its fifth. The 2024 season saw an expansion to three conferences, including the Kalahari Conference, and Petro de Luanda became the first Sub-Saharan African team to win the championship. The 2025 season was won by Al Ahli Tripoli, who became the first team to advance through the qualifying rounds and win the championship.
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The Association des Fédérations Africaines de Basketball (AFABA) was created in 1960
The Association des Fédérations Africaines de Basketball, or AFABA, was established in 1960 to govern basketball in Africa. The idea for the association was conceived during the sixth Congress of the Fédération Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) in Rome, Italy, on August 30 and 31, 1960. At this congress, the Egyptian Basketball Federation was given the go-ahead to organise a General Assembly for the creation of AFABA.
The Constitutive General Assembly took place in Cairo, Egypt, from June 11 to 14, 1961, under the supervision of FIBA and hosted by the Egyptian Basketball Federation. Twelve African countries participated in this assembly: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea Conakry, Mali, Morocco, Libya, North Rhodesia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Togo. The assembly was supervised by Dr William Jones, the then-FIBA Secretary General, and other notable basketball administrators.
The Association des Fédérations Africaines de Basketball (AFABA) was thus born, with the aim of managing and promoting basketball on the African continent. Over time, AFABA grew from its initial twelve founding countries to fifty-four member countries today. In 2002, AFABA became known as FIBA Africa, reflecting its affiliation with the global governing body of basketball.
The growth of basketball in Africa has been significant, with foreign investors, notably the National Basketball Association (NBA), recognising its potential. The success of African players like Hakeem Olajuwon, widely regarded as the best African player ever, has also inspired a generation of Africans to pursue basketball and attracted the NBA's interest in the continent. Initiatives like the Giants of Africa camps, co-founded by Masai Ujiri, the first African general manager in the NBA, further contribute to the sport's development in Africa.
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Frequently asked questions
The BAL is the premier men's basketball league in Africa. It was founded in 2019 by the National Basketball Association (NBA) Africa and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). Each season, 12 teams qualify through their performance in their domestic competition.
The NBA has been investing in African basketball for several years, with the establishment of Basketball Without Borders in 2003 and the opening of the NBA Academy Africa in 2018. The NBA also set up its headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2010, and has led the way in investing in African basketball talent.
The success of African players in the NBA, such as Hakeem Olajuwon, Pascal Siakam, and Joel Embiid, has catalyzed the growth of basketball in Africa. This has inspired other Africans to pursue basketball as a career and has highlighted the potential for the sport's growth on the continent.
