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Africa is the NBA's next expansion target.
Time for a thread
Time for a thread
1) Last week, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver named investment banker Victor Williams the new CEO of NBA Africa.
Williams will work out of the NBA’s Africa Headquarters in Johannesburg and be tasked with continuing the development of the region ( @CBSSportsHQ).
Williams will work out of the NBA’s Africa Headquarters in Johannesburg and be tasked with continuing the development of the region ( @CBSSportsHQ).
2) What’s the significance of NBA Africa?
From players to fans, the NBA has become increasingly more global in the six years since Adam Silver was named commissioner.
The problem?
International player growth is experiencing a plateau, a trend Silver would like to correct.
From players to fans, the NBA has become increasingly more global in the six years since Adam Silver was named commissioner.
The problem?
International player growth is experiencing a plateau, a trend Silver would like to correct.
3) When Silver took over in 2014, there were ~85 international players on NBA rosters.
On opening night of the 2019-2020 season, there were 108 international players from 38 countries, a 27% increase.
This is down from the 110 peak we saw on opening night four years ago ( @espn)
On opening night of the 2019-2020 season, there were 108 international players from 38 countries, a 27% increase.
This is down from the 110 peak we saw on opening night four years ago ( @espn)
4) The 2020 NBA All-Star game featured 8 international players - 2 from Africa.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece)
Luka Dončić (Slovenia)
Joel Embiid (Cameroon)
Rudy Gobert (France)
Nikola Jokić (Serbia)
Domantas Sabonis (Lithuania)
Pascal Siakam (Cameroon)
Ben Simmons (Australia)
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece)
Luka Dončić (Slovenia)
Joel Embiid (Cameroon)
Rudy Gobert (France)
Nikola Jokić (Serbia)
Domantas Sabonis (Lithuania)
Pascal Siakam (Cameroon)
Ben Simmons (Australia)
5) Why is Africa so important to the NBA?
- 2nd largest continent by population & size
- Population of 1.3B compared to 375M in North America
- Youth population within Africa will double by 2050
The league is expecting more NBA talent and a larger economic tailwind from Africa.
- 2nd largest continent by population & size
- Population of 1.3B compared to 375M in North America
- Youth population within Africa will double by 2050
The league is expecting more NBA talent and a larger economic tailwind from Africa.
6) From an economic perspective, there are 438 companies in Africa that generate more than $1 billion in revenue annually.
Adam Silver has called Africa "a huge economic engine" and something he is "particularly focused on" ( @espn).
Adam Silver has called Africa "a huge economic engine" and something he is "particularly focused on" ( @espn).
7) What's the plan to expand in Africa?
The NBA launched the Basketball Africa League (BAL) last year, a 12-team league within Africa run by the NBA and FIFA.
The BAL is the NBA’s first professional league owned and operated outside of the United States.
The NBA launched the Basketball Africa League (BAL) last year, a 12-team league within Africa run by the NBA and FIFA.
The BAL is the NBA’s first professional league owned and operated outside of the United States.
8) The Basketball Africa League, or BAL, will give African players the infrastructure to develop their talent and potentially make it to the NBA.
The key is convincing players they can do it without leaving their home country, like NBA stars Joel Embiid and Pascal Siakam did.
The key is convincing players they can do it without leaving their home country, like NBA stars Joel Embiid and Pascal Siakam did.
9) For the NBA to find success in Africa, basketball — and to some degree sports in general — need to become a first option for kids throughout the continent.
The BAL will help develop talent, but the NBA also needs to invest in increasing fan viewership and awareness.
The BAL will help develop talent, but the NBA also needs to invest in increasing fan viewership and awareness.
10) It’s important the NBA gets this right as the youth population within Africa is increasing and the region is a significant component to both the talent and economic projections of the NBA’s future.
With Adam Silver making the calls, I have confidence they'll figure it out.
With Adam Silver making the calls, I have confidence they'll figure it out.
11) As the saying goes, talent is universal and opportunity is not.
The NBA is going to try to change that. Don't bet against them.
The NBA is going to try to change that. Don't bet against them.
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