NBA to partner in new 12-team league in Africa

The NBA plans to further its global reach, announcing Saturday from All-Star Weekend in Charlotte, N.C., that it will partner with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to start a 12-team league in Africa beginning in January 2020. The new league, to be called Basketball Africa League (BAL) is the NBA's first collaboration to operate a league outside of North America.

Qualification tournaments will take place later this year to determine the BAL's 12 teams. Teams from several African countries will participate, including Angola, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia. The BAL will not take more than two teams from any one country. "The Basketball Africa League is an important next step in our continued development of the game of basketball in Africa," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. "Combined with our other programs on the continent, we are committed to using basketball as an economic engine to create new opportunities in sports, media and technology across Africa."

The NBA will also introduce direct-to-consumer offerings of NBA games for fans in Africa, including features and localized content. In addition, the NBA and FIBA has pledged financial support for the infrastructure of basketball in Africa, including skills camps for players, coaches and referees.

--Field Level Media