The growing globalization of basketball manifests in Johannesburg on Saturday morning, with the first NBA Africa Game featuring several stars participating at Ellis Park Arena in South Africa’s largest city.
NBA Africa Game 2015: Start time, TV schedule, live stream, rosters and more
The NBA will play its first-ever game in Africa on Saturday morning, with stars Chris Paul, Luol Deng and several others taking part in NBA Africa Game 2015.
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Chris Paul, Pau Gasol, Marc Gasol and Luol Deng are among the bevy of NBA players who will play in the event. The game is set up as a Team World vs. Team Africa contest, coached by Gregg Popovich and Lionel Hollins, respectively.
Paul and Deng are team captains.
“The goal is really growing the game,” Deng told Reuters News on Friday. “I think if we really want to encourage the young kids and believe in themselves, it just what we all want. And the fact that the game is here, I think in the future they will be more games. It is really a huge step for the game.”
The game is an experiment of sorts for NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who is present for the event and plans to scout facilities for what he hopes will be an NBA preseason game in Africa, some day.
ESPN will televise the game at 9 a.m. ET, with Mark Kestecher on play-by-play alongside analyst Doris Burke. On ESPN Deportes, Alvaro Martin will call the game with analyst Carlos Morales.
The broadcast will be re-aired at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
The game will also be available for streaming online at WatchESPN.
Rosters
Team Africa
Luol Deng
Al-Farouq Aminu
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Nicolas Batum
Bismack Biyombo
Boris Diaw
Gorgui Dieng
Festus Ezeli
Serge Ibaka
Luc Mbah a Moute
Nazr Mohammed
Coaches
Gregg Popovich
Mike Budenholzer
Monty Williams
Team World
Chris Paul
Bradley Beal
Trey Burke
Kenneth Faried
Pau Gasol
Marc Gasol
Jeff Green
Marcus Smart
Evan Turner
Nikola Vucevic
Coaches
Lionel Hollins
Brad Stevens
Game info
Time: 9 a.m. ET
Location: Ellis Park Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes
Re-air: ESPN2, 6 p.m.
Online: WatchESPN
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