NBA Africa has launched a documentary series showcasing the remarkable journeys of five African NBA prospects. The move serves to highlight the impact of the NBA Africa Academy and encourage aspiring African basketball players. It also offers a boost to the NBA’s revamped NBA App, on the continent.
NBA Africa’s first original docuseries, dubbed ‘Born & Bred’, a five-part documentary telling the stories of five NBA prospects from Africa, has premiered on the NBA App.
The series tells the stories of NBA prospects from Angola, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Sudan and it features exclusive footage and interviews with the prospects, family members, friends, and coaches.
According to Franck Traore, NBA Africa Head of Basketball Operations, the series showcases “the inspirational stories of prospects from across the continent who have come to NBA Academy Africa to take the next step in their basketball development journeys and lives.” NBA Academy Africa is an elite basketball training centre in Saly, Senegal, for the top high school-age prospects from across Africa.
“Each of these players has a unique story, but they all share one common purpose – to get better every day as athletes, students, and leaders. We look forward to showcasing their amazing stories to a global audience through the NBA App and NBA League Pass,” Traore explained.
The NBA launched its revamped app in September 2022 in a move The Athletic said at the time could see it “become a one-stop shop for its fans and serve as its digital flagship”.
Access to live NBA games and premium content through the App is available via an NBA League Pass which originally debuted on the App at US$99.99 for a season.
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“The series spotlights each prospect’s basketball journey, including the communities they were raised in and the moments that have shaped them as players and young men,” a statement from NBA Africa explained.
Four of the prospects also competed in the 2023 Basketball Africa League (BAL) season as part of the BAL Elevate program, which provides an opportunity for the next generation of African prospects to participate in a professional league, showcase their talent on a global stage, and help their respective teams compete for the BAL Championship.
The first episode, “Basketball Chose Me” is available for free on the NBA App and the “Born & Bred” series includes:
“Basketball Chose Me” featuring Reuben Chinyelu, a 19-year-old power forward from Lagos, Nigeria who is entering his freshman season with Washington State University;
“Dunk at First Sight” featuring Aginaldo Neto, a 17-year-old guard from a closely knit community in Luanda, Angola;
“From Generation to Generation” featuring Seifeldin Hendawy, an 18-year-old forward from Cairo, Egypt whose love for basketball is deeply rooted in his family history;
“Discipline Meets Opportunity” featuring Khadim Rassoul Mboup, a 16-year-old forward from Senegal who joined NBA Academy Africa following the 2021 FIBA Africa Regional Youth Camp in Saly; and
“Destined for Greatness”, which features Khaman Maluach, a 17-year-old centre who this year became the third-youngest player in history to participate in the FIBA Basketball World Cup, where he helped his native South Sudan clinch its first Olympic berth.
Useful links: https://theathletic.com/3633611/2022/09/27/nba-app-league-pass/
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