The NBA Africa Game 2017 is Saturday, August 5th. The contest will feature some of the league’s most recognizable names and among the players involved is Atlanta Hawks point guard Dennis Schröder.
Schröder, now in his fifth year, will be participating in the game and the Basketball Without Borders basketball camp. For German born Schröder, and the other members of Team Africa, this is a chance to further advance the game on the continent of Africa. Schroder’s mother is a native of Gambia.
The point guard feels that this is a great chance for him as a player as well. NBA players and their names are commodities. Schröder is aware of the attention the game brings and will use NBA Africa to help his name grow on the continent.
He spoke of the chance to represent Gambia during a conference call with the media.
“It’s great. I’m the first guy in the NBA from Gambia. I want to give back; I think [the NBA Africa Game] is a good platform.
Gambia itself won’t be featured, but that doesn’t make it any less remarkable to be able to be in Africa as an ambassador for the league as well his mother’s country.
“It’s special to work with the NBA and the Africa Game, to be out here representing Gambia, where she’s from.”
Other members of team Africa include former Hawk’s teammate Thabo Sefolosha, Gorgui Dieng, and Emmanuel Mudiay.
Schröder has talked with Dieng about the experience of being in the type of environment that NBA Africa provides.
“I’ve been talking to Gorgui Dieng a little bit. He’s from Senegal, and I’m from Gambia, so it’s really close. I think this is an excellent opportunity to try to get to know each other and try to learn from each other.”
This is only the second time ever that Africa will be hosting an NBA sanctioned game. The first game in 2015 was a rousing success with the league selling out an entire arena. This year, with a bigger venue, and bigger names on the bill, the NBA hopes that the impact on the community will be as well.
