Commissioner Adam Silver announced that the NBA will be partnering with FIBA in the near future to create a ‘Basketball Africa League.’
The league will start as a 12-franchise association and is set to begin play in January of next year. Along with the creation of the league, it was also announced that former President Barack Obama will be directly involved with the new league.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver just announced the league and FIBA are teaming up to start the Basketball Africa League, a 12-franchise league set to begin play in January 2020. Existing African club teams will get a chance to qualify for the league.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) February 16, 2019
MORE: Silver says former President Barack Obama has also expressed a desire to have direct involvement in the new league. He will; details to be determined.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) February 16, 2019
Former President Barack Obama has been out of office for over two years now, but he remains involved and has always been a well-known fan of basketball. Another important feature of the league is that existing African club teams will have the ability to qualify to play in it, allowing them more exposure if the league goes as the NBA and FIBA plan.
Furthering the NBA’s efforts to globalize the league and the game of basketball in general, fans of the game in Africa now have an exciting new league set to launch on the horizon. More details will likely be revealed over the next year prior to the league’s official opening in January.
