Dipo Olowookere
Nigeria is set to host an NBA Crossover event and the first floating basketball court on the continent. The idea is to promote the NBA and the sport in general.
Basketball Takes To The Water In Nigeria
The Landmark Beach Front in Lagos, Nigeria will be hosting Africa’s first NBA Crossover on February 5th of this year. An appropriate venue for such a landmark event.
Leading up to this landmark event, the NBA Crossover, which is Africa’s first floating basketball court, will be on display at the Ikoyi Link Bridge in Lagos from the 3rd – 5th of February.
The official announcement was made by NBA Africa and their presenting partner, Hennessy, during the last week of January.
NBA Culture
The NBA Crossover event itself is a lifestyle event that showcases the glamour of NBA culture. It is also an invitation-only event. This showcase of NBA culture seeks to demonstrate and display the many aspects that surround today’s basketball world. It brings together the technology, fashion, style, art and music that influence this global game.
The Landmark Beach Front event will feature industry and media personalities, top Nigerian artists, and a celebrity basketball game. Such a star-studded event is sure to be the highlight of the season and will bring international attention to the strides been made by NBA Africa.
The commitment by Lagos State to provide access to the sport has also been aided in the delivery of it aims by NBA Africa and Hennessy. The Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency at Ikorodu Recreation Park is receiving the donation of a basketball court from NBA Africa and its presenting partner.
The NBA Crossover showcase is a wonderful demonstration of the global impact that basketball has had on culture and a demonstration that this impact reaches far beyond the basketball court.
Nigeria joins the ranks of Australia, China, and the UK in being selected as an iconic location for courts to be showcased.
It has been noted by Victor Williams, NBA Africa CEO, how fitting it is that Africa’s first NBA Crossover event is being hosted by Nigeria. As Nigeria has passion and talent for basketball and their players have had a great impact on the NBA and basketball.
Gbemisola Abudu, NBA Africa Vice President & Country Head of Nigeria, has also commented that this NBA Crossover event is a milestone in the growth of basketball in Nigeria and is in line with NBA Africa’s developmental commitment.
75th Anniversary
This prestigious event also ties into the 75th anniversary season of the NBA. Presenting partners, Hennessy, are contributing to this anniversary with events and localized content across Africa.
Hennessy sees the NBA’s commitment to driving the culture forward and recognizes them as front-runners of Hennessy’s “Never Stop. Never Settle” ethos.
NBA Africa may have only been launched last year but the NBA Crossover showcase demonstrates that it’s making serious progress and may even lead to some regular-season games being played on the African continent.
With investor backing that includes former NBA players like Dikembe Mutombo and Joakim Noah, NBA Africa seems set to grow from strength to strength.
With the spread of smartphone’s that allow access to play live casino games across Africa, and African operations estimated at $1 billion, NBA Africa seems to be a success story in the making. NBA Africa also represents the first collaboration of the NBA outside of America.
