NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum on Monday spoke about the impact the Basketball Africa League (BAL) has on the development of the sport on the continent, Afrosport reports.
The 2025 BAL enters its business end with the playoffs set to begin in a couple days in South Africa, where seven other teams will be hoping to dethrone holders Petro de Luanda of Angola.
The BAL playoffs, which will take place at SunBet Arena in Pretoria, will tip off on 6 June with the seeding games, while the Finals will be held on 14 June.
This year’s tournament has so far provided many exhilarating moments as well as setting numerous records, including providing six debutants: Nairobi City Thunder (Kenya), Al Ittihad Alexandria (Egypt), Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya), MBB (South Africa), ASC Ville de Dakar (Senegal), and Kriol Star (Cape Verde).
It also marked the first time BAL games were played in Morocco, after the North African countries hosted the Kalahari Conference in Rabat, and the first time South Africa will host the playoffs and finals.
The competition has helped improve the landscape of basketball on the African continent and, according to the BAL, has contributed over $250 million to its GDP.
Tatum, while speaking in a general press conference with reporters from around the world, touched on the expectations for the growth of the BAL.
“We are very excited about the first time that the BAL playoffs and finals will be played in South Africa in Pretoria,” he said. “I had the chance to go to the opening conference in Morocco – that was the first time we played games there.
“What we have seen this season is growth in attendance as well as growth in interest, social media, viewership, and growth in the quality of competition too.
“Again, this was the first time we played games in Morocco, and the interest we are getting from different countries who want to host BAL games is continuing to grow. Ultimately one day we want the BAL to be one of the best leagues in the world, and there is so much talent there, and it will and can be one day.”
Tatum, 55, also addressed how the growth of the BAL can serve as a connector between the league and the NBA as well as help streamline the export of more African players to the biggest basketball league in the world.
“Ulrich Chomche played in the BAL; Khaman Maluach will be playing in the NBA; he played in the BAL for three years, the same as Reuben Chinyelu.
“So what we are seeing now is on the continent of Africa, when you are watching the BAL, you are watching future NBA prospects there, and I think that’s an exciting proposition for fans, and that’s why we are now having so many fans following and watching it.
“We are seeing these players who have been with the BAL in Africa; seeing if you can create a little infrastructure there, and with the right coach and training, the sky is the limit for these players, who have come in and had an impact on the style of the league, which has helped us grow on the continent and develop interest around the world too.”
The seeding games for the BAL playoffs will see Kriol Stars take on FUS de Rabat on Friday, 6 June, same day Al Ahli Tripoli and Al Ittihad Alexandria will lock horns in a tense battle between the league’s unbeaten sides.
On Saturday, 7 June, Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers will take US Monastir of Tunisia, while Rwanda’s APR will battle defending champions Petro de Luanda.
