Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced on Thursday (July 17 PHT) that it is set to hold its first ever exhibition game in Africa, with a select team composed of NBA players with African roots going against a side of NBA players born elsewhere in the world.
The game will take place at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg, South Africa on August 1 with two teams seeing action, Team Africa and Team World.
Team Africa will be represented by players born in Africa and second-generation African players.
It will feature team captain and two-time NBA All-Star Luol Deng (South Sudan), Al-Farouq Aminu (parents from Nigeria), Giannis Antetokounmpo (parents from Nigeria), Nicolas Batum (parent from Cameroon), Bismack Biyombo (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Boris Diaw (parent from Senegal), Gorgui Dieng (Senegal), Festus Ezeli (Nigeria), and Luc Mbah a Moute (Cameroon).
Serge Ibaka (Congo) was included in the lineup but will not play due to injury.
Team World, meanwhile, is composed of players from the rest of the world. It will feature team captain, eight-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul, Bradley Beal, Kenneth Faried, Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol, Jeff Green, Marcus Smart, Evan Turner, and Nikola Vucevic.
Five-time NBA champion Gregg Popovich will guide Team Africa with Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer and Oklahoma City Thunder assistant coach Monty Williams will serve as assistant coaches.
Brooklyn Nets Coach Lionel Hollins will call the shots for Team World, with Boston Celtics Coach Brad Stevens as his assistant.
