Basketball Without Borders

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Basketball Without Borders 2015 - Day 2 & 3

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Related: Day 1 &amp; 2 Recap | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 &amp; 8

Friday was all about compeition at the Basketball Without Borders camp in Johannesburg. After going 2-0 in their games on Thursday, "Team Raptors" opened the day with a semi-final matchup. 

With a victory, Dwane Casey's squad then moved on to the finals against "Team Rockets", which was played at the larger Wembley Stadium in Johannesburg. 

Amir Johnson watches on anxiously from the bench...

The game also featured a little added star power with an appearance from recording artist Aloe Blacc... 

In the end, it was Casey's "Team Raptors" coming up victorious to win the camp tournament and cap an outstanding week of learning the game at BWB Africa.

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Team Raptors Triumphant At BWB Africa

The Raptors continued to play in active role on Thursday at the Basketball Without Borders Africa camp in Johannesburg, which included the start of scrimmages. 

First up however, was a gathering of all campers and coaches who joined together for an inspirational chant lead by Raptors president and GM Masai Ujiri (who is serving as camp director at BWB Africa this year). 

From there "Team Raptors" held a brief practice before the days games, with included more instruction from  Amir Johnson...

It was almost game time for Team Raptors, but first, there was a meeting with a great group of coaches from Swaziland (the birthplace of Raptors assistant coach Jama Mahlalela). 

It was then time for tip-off and by the look of it, head coach Dwane Casey seemed just as intense on the sidelines as he did in last season's playoffs! Team Raptors finished the day 2-0. 

The day wasn't done for Ujiri, as he made an appearance on SuperSport TV with NBA Africa's Vice-President of Development Amadou Gallo Fall and Charlotte Hornets centre Bismack Biyombo. 

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BWB Camp Continues For Raptors On Day Three In Johannesburg

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Open Gym: Amir Johnson In Africa

A group of Raptors have made the trek to Africa for the better part of August, beginning with a stop in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

Raptors president and general manager Masai Ujiri, head coach Dwane Casey, assistant coach Jama Mahlalela and forward Amir Johnson are all on hand for the first leg of the trip to take part in a Basketball Without Borders camp.

Thanks to our excellent crew from Open Gym, we've got some great photos and video to share below. Much more to come from this amazing journey!

Coach Casey began his trip with a visit to the Apartheid Museum. 

The day concluded with a reception for all involved in this year's Basketball Without Borders Africa camp. 

Masai Ujiri poses with legendary centre Dikembe Mutombo, NBA Chief Strategic and Financial Officer Jason Cahilly, NBA Vice President for Development in Africa Amadou Gallo Fall and NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum. 

Amir Johnson then headed with a group from the camp to the SOS Children's Village. Regardless of the continent, Amir remains a huge hit with kids!

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Raptors Land In Johannesburg For Basketball Without Borders Africa

The NBA announced Tuesday that Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey and guard-forward John Salmons will participate in the 2014 Basketball without Borders (BWB) program.

The schedule will feature first-time camps in Taipei, Taiwan and Rome, Italy, and will return to Johannesburg, South Africa. Basketball without Borders, the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development program, has reached 1,700 campers from more than 120 countries, with 28 BWB campers drafted into the NBA.

Casey, along with fellow head coaches Brian Shaw (Denver Nuggets) and Jeff Hornacek (Phoenix Suns), former All-Star Andrei Kirilenko (Brooklyn Nets) and Thabo Sefolosha (Oklahoma City Thunder) will participate in BWB Africa. The camp returns to Johannesburg for the 11th time from August 5 – 8 and will bring together the top 60 African players born in 1997 or 1998 from more than 20 African countries.

Salmons will join Nicolas Batum (Portland Trail Blazers), Ronny Turiaf (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Cody Zeller (Charlotte Bobcats) in Taipei from June 13 – 16 to help tip off BWB Asia. Eight-time NBA All-Star Yao Ming will make a one-day appearance. BWB Asia 2014 will bring together the top 50 players born in 1996 or 1997 from more than 20 Asian and Oceanic countries.

BWB Europe will start the summer schedule from June 2 – 5 in Rome. Highlighting the camp will be three current Italian NBA players and former BWB campers: Danilo Gallinari (BWB 2003, Denver Nuggets), Andrea Bargnani (BWB 2003, New York Knicks), and Italian national team captain Gigi Datome (BWB 2003, Detroit Pistons). In addition, Brandon Knight (Milwaukee Bucks) and Al Horford (Atlanta Hawks) will also participate. BWB Europe 2014 will bring together the top 50 players born in 1997 from more than 25 European countries. The camp was held previously in Treviso, Italy in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

“Basketball without Borders helped me become the player and man I am today, both on and off the court,” said Gallinari. “Learning basketball and life skills from NBA players and coaches is a special opportunity that I greatly appreciated in 2003, and that I know this year’s campers will greatly appreciate. I look forward to bringing the amazing BWB program back to Italy with some of my fellow countrymen, and to coaching some of the most talented teenagers in Europe. I can’t wait to get started.”

Through NBA Cares, the league’s global social responsibility program, all three camps will include extensive community outreach efforts led by NBA players and coaches. Through grassroots basketball development, community service, and life skill seminars, BWB will focus on teaching the values of the game, including leadership, respect, character and health and wellness. In addition, donations of school supplies, clothing, books, games, basketball equipment and other necessities will be made to local community-based organizations.

Nike, a BWB global partner since 2002, will again outfit the campers and coaches of all three camps with Nike apparel and footwear.

Since its inception, the NBA and FIBA have staged 36 BWB camps in 21 cities across 18 countries on five continents. More than 150 different current and former NBA/WNBA players have joined nearly 140 NBA team personnel from all 30 NBA teams.

Basketball Without Borders