NBA firmly lands in Kenya with Junior League launch

NBA firmly lands in Kenya with Junior League launch

The popular National Basketball Association (NBA) will deepen its roots in Kenya from next year following the launch of the NBA Junior League in Nairobi on Monday.

The league will target teenage players across the country and will tip off next year in a move that seeks to develop basketball stars of the future.

US Ambassador to Kenya, Robert Godec said his embassy would donate USD 10000 (Ksh1m) to the project that partners with the NBA and Gina Din Foundation.

Thirty teams will feature in the league which will follow a similar structure to the NBA.

They will be divided into the Eastern and Western Conferences with dominant sides proceeding to the playoffs, conference finals and finals. The winners will be awarded with a trophy and championship rings.

“The NBA is a superstar league across the globe and I believe that the junior league will be exciting addition to the Kenyan sports scene.

“It is for this reason that the United States will be awarding the league a grant of USD 10,000 towards the competition,” Godec said.

“Young people will learn important skills not just on the court but in life as well. I’m looking forward to seeing Kenyan names on NBA rosters in the near future,” he added.

“NBA Africa has identified Kenya as one of the five priority countries due to the passion of basketball,” said NBA Africa Vice President and Managing Director Amadou Gallo Fall.

“Since we established our office in 2010, our key pillar is social responsibility and giving back to communities which is part of driving the popularity of the game around the world. We are delighted to be working with both the United States Embassy and the Gina Din Foundation on this project,” he added.

NBA is already running similar competitions in eight countries across Africa with 12 million players currently taking part.

Last season, Luc Mbah A Moute (Minnesota Timberwolves), Serge Ibaka (Oklahoma City Thunder), Festus Ezeli (Golden State Warriors), Bismack Biyombo (Charlotte Bobcats), Hasheem Thabeet (Oklahoma City Thunder), Al-Farouq Aminu (New Orleans Pelicans), Gorgui Dieng (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Luol Deng (Cleveland Cavaliers) represented Africa on NBA rosters.

The NBA, founded in 1946, is a global sports and entertainment brand that features 30 basketball teams in the United States and Canada. 2013-14 NBA Opening Day rosters featured a record 84 international players from 37 countries and territories.

“I’m pleased the NBA has gone truly global with 25 percent of players who feature coming from other countries. It demonstrates America does not shut the door for anyone with talent to express it at the highest level of the sport,” Godec observed.

The envoy reiterated one of his duties was to forge stronger ties between the two countries in sport hailing the victory of Mary Keitany at Sunday’s New York Marathon where she scooped her third title.

Tags:

kenya africa NBA basketball america Mary Keitany New York Marathon Amadou Gallo Fall Robert Godec Gin Din Foundation NBA Junior League

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