Basketballghana.com can confirm the inaugural season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) will commence on March 13 in Senegal.
The opening game (yet to be determined) is scheduled to be played at the Dakar Arena; the arena hosted the 2019 Africa Women’s Basketball Championship.
The date was announced at the official launch of the League at the Africa Luncheon during the NBA All Star Weekend in Chicago; the event attracted high ranking and powerful members of the NBA and basketball world governing body FIBA.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, FIBA President Hamane Niang, BAL President Amadou Fall, Milwaukee Bucks Owners Wes Edens and Marc Lasry among others.
Former and present NBA and WNBA players with ties to Africa including Dikembe Mutombo, Chiney Ogwumike, Abdel Nader, Pops Mensah Bonsu and Festus Ezeli witnessed the event.
12 teams will compete in the league’s regular season; Rwanda’s Kigali Center will host playoff games and the finals.
The competing teams are to be drawn into two groups with six teams in each group and the top four teams in each conference progresses to the playoffs.
By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
@YawMintYM on Twitter
