Today's NBA exhibition Team World vs. Team Africa in Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg, South Africa is about more than just basketball. It is the first time that the NBA has sanctioned a game on African soil. It comes 31 years after all-time great Hakeem Olajuwon became the first African-born player to be drafted into the league. Olajuwon was fittingly there today for the celebration.
Elite players and coaches in the league have made the trip to participate in far more than just today's game. For them it has been about getting kids to play basketball. African-born current NBA star Luol Deng has led the effort. He has talked about kids who are as young as 12 years old being involved in war. Deng spoke of their athletic talents and how he hopes to get them to put down their guns and pick up a basketball. That will be his greatest victory to come from this.
The NBA did a wonderful job. However it is just the beginning. This week proved how wide the league's fanbase truly is. The next step is a pre-season game in Johannesburg. After that, regular season.
This week was great progress. There is more to come.