Basketball Africa League hopes to have all of its players vaccinated in time for its second seasonNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
The NBA as it begins its 75th season is planning to "focus on the expansion of basketball in Africa," according to Martenzie Johnson of THE UNDEFEATED. The NBA throughout the season will be ranking its "top 75 historical moments" in Africa, but the "most visible byproduct of the NBA’s relationship with Africa has been the number of players from the continent, or with at least one parent who is, who have played in the league." More than 100 players of African origin "have played in the NBA," with 50 "currently on active rosters." NBA Africa CEO Victor Williams said of the expansion of TV broadcast rights on the continent, "We are really pleased with the momentum we’re seeing, and the interest amongst various broadcasters." He added that at the moment they have coverage with "some of the major paid-TV broadcasters, such as ESPN and Canal+," and with them and other partners have "all 54 countries on the continent being able to watch NBA games." Meanwhile, Johnson noted there is "some vaccine skepticism in sub-Saharan Africa." Williams when asked if that reluctance has affected the Basketball Africa League's ability to expand in the continent and to get its second season started said, "Our goal would be that everyone who participates in the BAL season two will have been vaccinated, and we are working and looking at measures that we can take to support that so that we can ensure that people actually get access to the vaccines" (THEUNDEFEATED.com, 10/20).
