The 2018 NBA Africa Game was an exhibition basketball game played on 4 August 2018 in the Sun Arena at Time Square in Pretoria, South Africa. It was the third NBA game to take place on the continent of Africa, and continued with the format of Team Africa versus Team World.^[1][2]

The series followed its previous format of a team of players of African origin or immediate descent against an assortment of other players, with the 2018 Team World roster consisting almost entirely of players from the United States, with one Italian. In a first for the series, each roster included one female member, each a retired alumna from the WNBA.

Team World led for the vast majority of the game, with Team Africa, led by Joel Embiid, pulling to within three points in the final minute of play. Team Africa missed several attempts at what would have been the tying three-point shot; Team World scored the clinching free throw with 5 seconds remaining.^[3]

Rosters

Team Africa[4][5][6] Pos. Origin Player Team F  South Sudan Luol Deng Los Angeles Lakers C  Benin Ian Mahinmi Washington Wizards F  Nigeria Al-Farouq Aminu Portland Trail Blazers C  DR Congo Bismack Biyombo Charlotte Hornets F  Mali Cheick Diallo New Orleans Pelicans C  Cameroon Joel Embiid Philadelphia 76ers G/F  Algeria Evan Fournier Orlando Magic F/C  Congo Serge Ibaka Toronto Raptors G/F  DR Congo Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot Oklahoma City Thunder F  Cameroon Pascal Siakam Toronto Raptors C  Mozambique Clarisse Machanguana Retired WNBA alumna Head coach: J. B. Bickerstaff (Memphis Grizzlies)

Team World[4][5][6] Pos. Nat. Player Team F/C  U.S. John Collins Atlanta Hawks C  U.S. JaVale McGee Los Angeles Lakers F/G  U.S. Garrett Temple Memphis Grizzlies F  U.S. Marvin Williams Charlotte Hornets F  U.S. Harrison Barnes Dallas Mavericks F  Italy Danilo Gallinari Los Angeles Clippers F  U.S. Rudy Gay San Antonio Spurs F  U.S. Khris Middleton Milwaukee Bucks C  U.S. Hassan Whiteside Miami Heat F  U.S. Swin Cash Retired WNBA alumna Head coach: Ettore Messina (San Antonio Spurs)

References