Led by Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo, a host of NBA stars and coaching personnel will return to Johannesburg, South Africa Basketball Sept. 5-9 at the American International School of Johannesburg for the fifth edition of Basketball without Borders Africa, the National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and Basketball South Africa (BSA) announced today. The NBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program uses the sport of basketball to influence positive social change and features dozens of current and former NBA players and team personnel as camp coaches.
Event Fact Sheet
Special Correspondent: Fran Blinebury |
Houston Chronicle writer Fran Blinebury reports from the first two days of Basketball without Borders Africa.
 First-timers and Familiar Faces in South Africa
Developing the African Talent Pool
Safari with Josh Childress |
Josh Childress and a giraffe
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Recap Gallery
Basketball without Borders - Africa Recap Gallery |
Emeka Okafor and Josh Childress
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Recap Gallery
Final Thoughts from Johannesburg |
Josh Childress and Emeka Okafor at Habitat for Humanity
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It was quite a moving and memorable experience visiting South Africa as we wind down the Basketball Without Borders trip in Johannesburg today (Sunday). Out of all the things we’ve done, whether it was laying brick for houses in a local community, raising AIDS awareness or teaching and hosting various basketball clinics, one of the real highlights for me on this trip was seeing first hand the love for the game that these kids have. We were out on concrete running through drills and you see these kids diving for loose balls, going all out, just showing a great enthusiasm for the game. You realize that it’s not as easy for the kids here to go out and find a court to play basketball as it is for kids in the United States.
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Final Day of Basketball without Borders Africa 2007. |
All-Star Game 1
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As the sun set over the American International School of Johannesburg, the campers said their goodbyes having forged lasting friendships in what was a truly memorable experience for all. After four days of intense basketball, expert coaching and important life skills seminars it was time for the campers to return to the four corners of the continent and to put into practice what they had learned. After the final round of games, players and spectators alike took a seat to watch the three-point contest and the All-Star game. more...
Day 4 Recap Gallery
The NBA Closes BWB Community Outreach with NBA Cares Legacy Project at Cotlands |
Josh matches up against Primoz Brezec at a EA SPORTS gaming tournament at BWB Africa 2007
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In partnership with Cotlands, a nonprofit organization in Johannesburg that operates one of the most renowned pediatric AIDS hospices for children up to 9 years old, the NBA players and coaches dedicated a new home-based care facility in Soweto. The new facility, jointly funded by the NBA and the De Beers Fund, will provide home-based care for chronically and terminally ill children, serve as a place for caregiver support programs and will have an area for income generation projects. more...
Day 3 Recap Gallery
NBA Players Give Back Through Sweat Equity |
Habitat for Humanity in Katlehong
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The South African construction rally cry of “Dagga!!” could be heard streets away as the NBA players, coaches, and guests learned a lesson in “sweat equity” as they pitched in to help build two homes in Katlehong in partnership with Habitat for Humanity and sponsored by the Pagliuca family.
“Sweat equity” is the idea that one must give what they wish to receive. The players witnessed this first hand as they joined the future homeowners in creating two solid and safe homes for them to live in. more...
Day 2 Recap Gallery
20 years of Dreams and Passion at SKY Trust |
Josh Childress and his mother with some of the local Kliptown children
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The campers had come from all over Africa; the NBA players and coaches from across oceans. After the morning press conference celebrating the fifth installment of Basketball without Borders Africa, the camp kicked off its first full day of activities. After being split up into the teams they will be playing with for the rest of the camp, the participants had their first up-close interactions as the NBA players and coaches shared their expertise on defense, offense and everything in between, in the morning skill sessions.
Next up for the NBA players was a moving and inspirational afternoon celebrating the 20th anniversary of Soweto Kliptown Youth (SKY) Trust. Soweto stands for SOuth WEstern TOwnship in reference to its location to Johannesburg, and many parts are considered the poorest in Johannesburg. Many residents of Kliptown live in shacks and share toilets and water sources. more...
Sep 06 photo gallery
Basketball without Borders Africa Warms Up |
Welcome Reception
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Players Make Emotional Visit to the Apartheid Museum
Johannesburg, South Africa, Sept. 5, 2007 – Only four days into spring and it felt more like mid-summer as the temperature unusually hit the high 80’s today in Johannesburg.
Bruce Bowen, who also attended last years’ BWB Africa, was joined by Primoz Brezec (Charlotte Bobcats), Josh Childress (Atlanta Hawks), and Steve Smith for what proved to be a dramatic emotional journey at the Apartheid Museum.
"The Triumph of the Human Spirit Over Adversity"
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Wednesday's photo gallery
NBA to Support Youth and Family Development in South Africa |
NEW YORK – SEPT. 4, 2007 – Led by Dikembe Mutombo of the Houston Rockets and NBA star Emeka Okafor of the Charlotte Bobcats, Basketball without Borders Africa will continue to strengthen and enrich the NBA’s existing partnerships with Cotlands, Habitat for Humanity International and SKY Trust through its social responsibility efforts, the National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and Basketball South Africa (BSA) announced today.
“NBA players have a great passion for the game and for giving back to the community,” said Kathy Behrens, Senior Vice President of Community and Player Programs. “Basketball without Borders combines the best of the NBA -- community outreach and basketball development -- and it allows our players to celebrate the game and make a lasting difference for those in need.”more...
Top 100 Athletes Selected For Basketball Without Borders Africa
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JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – AUG. 31, 2007 – The top 100 teenage basketball players from Africa selected to participate in Basketball without Borders were announced today by the National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), and Basketball South Africa (BSA). Basketball without Borders is the NBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program, which uses the sport to influence positive social change, and features dozens of current and former NBA players and team personnel as camp coaches
The young players (ages 19 & under) from 21 African countries were selected by FIBA and the NBA based on their basketball skills, leadership abilities and dedication to the sport. Basketball without Borders Africa, scheduled to take place Sept. 5-9, will return to the American International School of Johannesburg for the fifth time since 2003.
For four days the campers will work hard to improve their skills through drills, scrimmages, and competitions with top instruction from NBA players and coaches. Teams will form without regard to race or nationality to promote friendship and diversity. The campers will also participate in life skills sessions, in partnership with Hoops 4 Hope, in which NBA players will speak about the importance of education, leadership, character, healthy living, and HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. more...
NBA Stars Return to South Africa to celebrate Basketball Without Borders Africa
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JOHANNESBURG, APRIL 11, 2007 – Led by Houston Rockets center Dikembe Mutombo, a host of NBA stars and coaching personnel will return to Johannesburg, South Africa Basketball Sept. 5-9 at the American International School of Johannesburg for the fifth edition of Basketball without Borders Africa, the National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and Basketball South Africa (BSA) announced today. The NBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program uses the sport of basketball to influence positive social change and features dozens of current and former NBA players and team personnel as camp coaches.
“Basketball without Borders is well established as the NBA’s innovative global program and further demonstrates the commitment of the NBA family, its teams, players and coaching staff in reaching out to communities worldwide through NBA Cares,” said Kathleen Behrens, Senior Vice President, NBA Community & Player Programs. “Together with FIBA and our marketing partners’ commitment to social responsibility, these camps exemplify the concept of using basketball to achieve a greater goal of influencing social change around the world and we are proud to be returning to Africa for the fifth time.” more... |
NBA Access with Ahmad Rashad
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