The Toronto Raptors will once again have a strong presence at the NBA Africa Game. DeMar DeRozan, Serge Ibaka, and Pascal Siakam are all set to participate in the NBA and NBPA’s continued effort to grow the game in African communities and celebrate Nelson Mandela.
“With origins from all over the world, our players understand the global reach of the sport of basketball and remain committed to making an impact on the continent through this third Africa Game,” NBPA executive director Michele Roberts said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing this tradition with the NBA and strengthening the presence of basketball in Africa and around the world.”
BREAKING NEWS: @Raptors' @DeMar_DeRozan and @sixers' @JoelEmbiid headline #NBAAFRICAGAME 2018 to be hosted at Sun Arena at Time Square in Pretoria, South Africa on 4 August! https://t.co/OR8NrdcES6 pic.twitter.com/vNAbVeKwaO
— NBA Africa (@NBA_Africa) May 31, 2018
This summer’s event goes down on Aug. 4 in Pretoria, South Africa, and is the third of its kind (it also follows the 16th Basketball Without Borders camp). Last summer, Kyle Lowry suited up for Team World opposite Ibaka for Team Africa, and it will be DeRozan in his place this time squaring off against a pair of teammates.
“I am proud to represent Team World in the third NBA Africa Game,” DeRozan said in a release. “Some of my teammates played in the previous two games, and I have heard a lot of great things about South Africa and our fans there. I’m looking forward to visiting the continent for the first time this summer.”
Last year, Masai Ujiri and Patrick Mutombo joined as coaches, and it would seem likely that more people from the Raptors organization will be involved when the full participant lists come out. The rest of the rosters as announced so far are as follows:
Team Africa: Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2011), Al-Farouq Aminu (Portland Trail Blazers; U.S.; parents from Nigeria), Bismack Biyombo (Orlando Magic; Democratic Republic of the Congo), Cheick Diallo (New Orleans Pelicans; Mali), Evan Fournier (Magic; France; parent from Algeria), Serge Ibaka (Toronto Raptors; Republic of the Congo), Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (76ers; France; parent from Democratic Republic of the Congo), and Pascal Siakam (Raptors; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2012).
Team World: DeMar DeRozan (Raptors; U.S.), Harrison Barnes (Dallas Mavericks; U.S.), Danilo Gallinari (LA Clippers; Italy; BWB Europe 2003), Rudy Gay (San Antonio Spurs; U.S.), Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks; U.S.), and Hassan Whiteside (Miami Heat; U.S.).
The game will be played in support of the Nelson Mandela Foundation and will are live in Sub-Saharan Africa. Broadcast or stream info for Canada/U.S. will likely follow.
