On Saturday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and FIBA announced the launch of the Basketball Africa League, a 12-team competition consisting of teams across the continent.
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The league is scheduled for launch in January of 2020 and will be the NBA’s first collaboration to run a pro sports league outside of North America. Former President Barack Obama who’s an avid basketball fan, is also expected to have a hands-on role!
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“The Basketball Africa League is an important next step in our continued development of the game of basketball in Africa,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver in a statement. “Combined with our other programs on the continent, we are committed to using basketball as an economic engine to create new opportunities in sports, media and technology across Africa.” Obama appeared on a video at the announcement and said, “Through sport, if you put in effort, you will be rewarded.” Although his role has yet to be determined, he did share how exited he is to be apart of it on Twitter.
