The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced the formation of NBA Africa, a new entity that will operate the league’s business in the African continent. This will include the Basketball Africa League (BAL), jointly operated by the NBA and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), and the NBA’s first collaboration to operate a league outside of North America. The inaugural BAL season, which features 12 of the top club teams from 12 African countries, is currently underway in Kigali, Rwanda. The first BAL Finals will be held on May 30. The strategic investors include a consortium led by Babatunde “Tunde” Folawiyo, chairman and CEO of Yinka Folawiyo Group, and Helios Fairfax Partners Corporation (HFP), led by Tope Lawani. Lawani and Folawiyo will also join the NBA Africa’s board of directors, which is led by the CEO of NBA Africa, Victor Williams. The board also includes NBA commissioner Adam Silver and NBA deputy commissioner and chief operating officer Mark Tatum. Additional investors in NBA Africa are Joakim Noah and Junior Bridgeman, among others. The NBA has a decade-long history in Africa. The league opened its African headquarters in Johannesburg in 2010. It has since focused on increasing access to basketball and the NBA across the continent.

Topics