Back in 2015, the NBA held its first-ever game in Africa. Team Africa took on Team World in a friendly exhibition in South Africa, which even featured cameos from Hakeem Olajuwon and Dikembe Mutombo.
The NBA Africa Game will be returning to Johannesburg, South Africa this summer with the festivities set for Saturday, August 5. Via NBA.com:
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) announced today the full rosters for NBA Africa Game 2017, the League's second game in Africa.
The event will take place Saturday, August 5 at the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg, South Africa, following the 15th edition of Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Africa.
It will once again feature a Team Africa vs Team World format and will be played in support of UNICEF, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and SOS Children's Villages South Africa (SOSCVSA).
Team Africa will be made up of players from Africa, along with second-generation African players, while Team World will feature players from three different continents: North America, South America and Europe.
A number of stars will be suiting up for the game, including Joel Embiid, Serge Ibaka, Dirk Nowitzki, and DeMarcus Cousins.
Team Africa, comprised of players born in Africa and second-generation African players, will be led by team captains Luol Deng (Los Angeles Lakers; South Sudan) and Thabo Sefolosha (most recently with the Atlanta Hawks; Switzerland; South African parent).
Deng and Sefolosha will be joined by Bismack Biyombo (Orlando Magic; Democratic Republic of Congo), Clint Capela (Houston Rockets; Switzerland; parents from Angola and Congo), Gorgui Dieng (Minnesota Timberwolves; Senegal), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers; Cameroon), Serge Ibaka (Toronto Raptors; Congo), Luc Mbah a Moute (most recently with the LA Clippers; Cameroon), Salah Mejri (Dallas Mavericks; Tunisia), Emmanuel Mudiay (Denver Nuggets; DRC), Victor Oladipo (Indiana Pacers; US.; Nigerian parent) and Dennis Schroder (Atlanta Hawks; Germany; Gambian parent).
Team World, comprised of players from the rest of the world, will be led by team captains Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks; Germany) and Kemba Walker (Charlotte Hornets; US).
Nowitzki and Walker will be joined by Leandro Barbosa (most recently with the Phoenix Suns; Brazil), Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics; US), Wilson Chandler (Nuggets; US), DeMarcus Cousins (New Orleans Pelicans; US), Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons; US), Courtney Lee (New York Knicks; US), Kyle Lowry (Raptors; US), CJ McCollum (Portland Trail Blazers; US) and Kristaps Porzingis (Knicks; Latvia).
The previous edition of the NBA Africa Game was a success, and judging by the 2017 rosters, it seems this year's should be as well.