November 06, (THEWILL) – The National Basketball Association (NBA) has reiterated the commitment of the organisation to supporting and uplifting the game of basketball in Nigeria through the provision of more opportunities for Nigerians to learn the fundamentals and core values of the game.
At an event in Lagos, welcoming Mark Tatum, NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer, on his first visit to Nigeria, the NBA, which in February this year, opened a dedicated Nigerian office in Lagos, promised to deliver enabling and veritable platforms that will positively transform and grow the Nigerian basketball ecosystem.
According to Tatum, the NBA sees significant opportunities in Nigeria and will continue to invest in the country to create more pathways for the development of the game of basketball.
“While we just opened an office here this year, Nigeria has been an important market for the NBA for decades, dating back to when Hall of Famers, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson hosted basketball clinics here in 1971. And you can’t overstate the incredible basketball talent from Nigeria and its impact on the league. From Hakeem Olajuwon, who was selected with the number one pick in the 1984 NBA Draft, to six Nigerian players on the NBA rosters this season, to two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is of course of Nigerian descent”, Tatum explained.
“We opened an office in Lagos because we believe there is an enormous opportunity ahead for the NBA in Nigeria and because the continued growth of basketball here can be a catalyst for the rest of the continent. We want to help accelerate the growth of basketball and help develop an environment in which the Nigerian youth has a predictable pathway to learn the game and maximize their potential”, he added.
Other executives of the NBA present in Lagos include Victor Williams, NBA Africa CEO; Gbemisola Abudu, NBA Africa Vice President and Country Head for Nigeria and Amadou Gallo Fall, Basketball Africa League President all restated the position of Tatum.
Williams said: “The NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum is here this week, along with a delegation of other NBA executives, and it speaks to our continued commitment to growing the game of basketball in Nigeria, strengthening the basketball ecosystem, connecting with our fans and building up the NBA brand and activities in Nigeria. Nigeria already makes a significant contribution to the NBA in terms of players, coaches, executives and leaders at all levels, so it is a really important and significant market for the NBA in Africa and we’re really pleased to be here this weekend to spend time in the country, meet with various stakeholders and to promote what the NBA is looking to do in Nigeria.”
Abudu on her part, while thanking the NBA for opening a Lagos office, as well as welcoming the NBA Deputy Commissioner and his delegation to Nigeria said: “When we’re saying that we are investing in Nigeria, that’s exactly what we’re doing. We’re investing from a human capacity standpoint, making sure that our fans get to experience the NBA. It’s very significant and it shows our commitment to the country.”
Amadou said the Basketball Africa League will be pleased to welcome a Nigerian club side to the third edition of the league in 2023 with Nigeria as one of the six countries on the continent with automatic qualification slots.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
