The first ever edition of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) is scheduled to commence on March 13 in Dakar, Senegal and prior to the opening round of games, some star players in the NBA from the continent have shared their thoughts about the league.
BAL is the product of a joint partnership between the world’s biggest basketball league-NBA and basketball world governing body FIBA.
Toronto Raptors Forward Pascal Siakam and Philadelphia Sixers Center Joel Embiid expressed their pleasure about the initiative following its launch during the NBA All Star Weekend in Chicago. Both players competed in the All Star Game.
“It’s definitely the next step,” he said. “ It’s something that we as a continent should be proud of, and it shows that the world is recognising our talent” Siakam said to GiveMeSport.
“I think having a basketball league in Africa is going to be great…There’s a lot of talent. We just need the right people to teach us and we’re going to be fine” Embiid said to the same source.
12 teams from 12 countries on the continent will compete in the BAL regular season.
By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
@YawMintYM on Twitter
