Clippers' Paul To Play In Historic First-Ever NBA Game In Africa
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul will help make history later this summer when he plays in the NBA's first game in Africa, league officials announced Wednesday.
The game, which will take place Aug. 1 at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg, South Africa, will feature a Team Africa vs. Team World format and will be played in support of Boys & Girls Clubs of South Africa, SOS Children's Villages Association of South Africa and the Nelson Mandela Foundation, according to NBA spokesman Rick Pendrick.
An eight-time NBA All-Star and current National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) President, Paul will serve as Team World's captain, while two-time NBA All-Star Luol Deng of the Miami Heat -- who was born in South Sudan -- will serve as Team Africa's captain.
"I look forward to representing Team World in the first NBA game in Africa," said Paul. "It will be my first visit to the continent, and I cannot wait to contribute to the growth of the game on and off the court."
Team Africa will be comprised of players from Africa and second generation African players, and Team World will be comprised of players from the rest of the world, according to Pendrick.
In addition to participants on the court, NBA executives, coaches, general managers and legends will also take part, including NBA Africa Ambassador Hakeem Olajuwon, NBA Global Ambassador Dikembe Mutombo, 2014-15 NBA Coach of the Year Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
Full rosters are set to be released later this year.
More than 35 players from Africa have played in the NBA since Olajuwon - a Hall of Famer and two-time NBA champion - was drafted in 1984.
The league has hosted events in Africa since 1993 and in 2010 opened its first office in Johannesburg, but it has never hosted an NBA game on the continent.
