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"I just signed yesterday (Friday) for the Toronto Raptors," Fernando said. It is a non-guaranteed deal, meaning that he will report to camp and compete for a roster spot. Rajaković, also in Joburg with BWB, told ESPN why he liked the deal: "I like that he plays really hard. I like that he wants to win; he is all about the team.”
Mike Brown spent this past weekend in Johannesburg, South Africa alongside current and former head coaches J.B. Bickerstaff of the Cavaliers, Dwane Casey, who coached the last five seasons with the Pistons, Darvin Ham of the Lakers, and former Sacramento head coach Dave Joerger, to help lead the 19th Basketball Without Borders Africa Camp, featuring 80 boys and girls representing the top high school prospects from throughout the continent.
When the Knicks got bounced by the eventual conference champions, there was a sense of relief. Closure even. Darius Garland could finally move forward.“It took a couple weeks,” Garland told cleveland.com in a phone interview from Johannesburg, South Africa, where he is taking part in Basketball Without Borders Africa. “Probably until the second round. Probably until they lost.”
Nigerian-American Bam Adebayo is at the Basketball Without Borders camp in Johannesburg, South Africa, and is using the chance to teach talented teens about the high standards set at the NBA's Miami Heat. The power forward/center, whose father's side of his family is Nigerian, is teaching 80 of the most talented high school basketball players from all across Africa (40 boys and girls apiece) skills and tactics, as well as life lessons.
The National Basketball Association wants to open more retail shops in markets around the world, as the league looks to expand the sport’s presence abroad. The league has opened new locations over the past year in Paris, Berlin, Melbourne, Johannesburg and Abu Dhabi, which sell licensed products such as jerseys, T-shirts and caps. There are now 37 stores across 12 countries.
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The league has made sizable progress in Africa since holding its first Basketball Without Borders camp in Johannesburg in 2003, illustrated by all 54 countries on the continent now having access to NBA games. There also was the creation of NBA Africa, led by CEO Victor Williams, to manage all of the league’s business ventures. But the most visible byproduct of the NBA’s relationship with Africa has been the number of players from the continent or with at least one parent who is, who have played in the league. More than 100 players of African origin have played in the NBA, with 50 currently on active rosters as of opening night, including 13 born in Africa. Williams, who is based in the league’s Johannesburg office, spoke to The Undefeated about the 75th season celebration, the continued expansion into Africa, and the immediate future of the BAL.
“In the community, they have put their time, energy and resources,” said Nash, who was born in Johannesburg. “To me, it’s an unbelievable opportunity to work with a team in an incredible city with an incredible ownership and a talented roster.”
“It's a new start,” Luwawu-Cabarrot told The Oklahoman last week from Johannesburg, South Africa. “Everything is new. I haven't been there for more than a day, so I can't even fully realize that it's gonna be a new life, a new city, a new coach, a new staff, new players, new friends, new things to do in the city, new restaurants. Everything is gonna be new. I love learning new things when I move somewhere.”
Sam Amick: Statement to USA TODAY Sports from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who is in Johannesburg, South Africa for the third NBA Africa Game (in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation), in response to President Trump’s tweet about LeBron James and CNN’s Don Lemon
Statement to USA TODAY Sports from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who is in Johannesburg, South Africa for the third NBA Africa Game (in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation), in response to President Trump’s tweet about LeBron James and CNN’s Don Lemon pic.twitter.com/5Q01VX0bt6
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) August 4, 2018
They were ready to strike. Brett Brown said he was star hunting. The Sixers struck out on landing LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George. Joel Embiid didn’t care. “When my season ended, there was a lot of talk about adding guys. I literally did not really care because I want to get better,” Embiid said during a conference call Wednesday from Johannesburg, South Africa. “I want to be better than those guys that were mentioned, if I’m not already better than them.”
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"This summer, I went to Kigali, and Nairobi and Lagos, and I went to Kampala and Abidjan and Dakar and Johannesburg and I saw great cities, and great people," Ujiri told ESPN on Friday. "And I went to visit the refugee camp in Dadaab, and I met good people and good families with plenty of hope. If those places are being referred to as shitholes, go visit those places, and go meet those people. I don't think it's fair, and I don't think it's what inspiring leadership can be. What sense of hope are we giving people if you are calling where they live -- and where they're from -- a shithole?"
The location and roster may have changed, but it was the same old story on the court, as Team Africa were bested 108-97 by Team World in the NBA Africa Game in Johannesburg on Saturday. In the last NBA Africa game which took place two years ago, Team World defeated Team Africa 97-101, and there was little change this time around, as the 'hosts' - without injured co-captain Luol Deng and Cameroon phenom Joel Embiid - were outclassed by the travelling party.
To say the least, it's a team-friendly deal -- chump change by today's NBA standards. "Mark and I obviously have a close, close relationship," Nowitzki said from Johannesburg, South Africa, where he is participating in the NBA's Basketball Without Borders program and will play in NBA Africa Game 2017 on Saturday. "Last year, he really, really took care of me as we all know. That was well-documented.
Embiid, a counselor at a Basketball Without Borders camp before Saturday's NBA Africa Game in Johannesburg, South Africa, said he's doing non-contact drills while recovering from a torn left meniscus, but he hasn't been cleared to play 5-on-5 yet. "I can do everything but play 5-on-5 and one-on-one," Embiid told Spears. "I think I will be ready for training camp."
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