The B.A.L. Combine in Paris? Pourquoi pas?
The BAL Combine serves as a unique opportunity for players from around the world to connect with coaches and teams from Africa, opening up new possibilities for their careers.
The recent Basketball Africa League (BAL) Combine in Paris sparked a heated debate about the choice of location and significance. I think many missed the point of the event and its purpose, which is to gather foreign talents and give them the opportunity to participate in the African league.
As the BAL points out, Each of the 12 BAL teams will have up to 13 players, at least eight of whom will be citizens in their respective team’s home country and up to four of whom can be from other countries, with no more than two players per team from outside of Africa. One roster spot on each team is reserved for an NBA Academy Africa prospect as part of the BAL Elevate program, which will once again provide an opportunity for the next generation of African prospects to participate in a professional league, showcase their talent on a global stage and help their respective teams compete for the 2023 BAL Championship.
As a passionate basketball fan, I would like to highlight some of the factors that make the combine an attractive destination for top global talent in the African league and continent. The event featured impressive players such as Rupee Kolawole and Zaire Wade, as well as guidance and inspiration from basketball legends like Dwyane Wade and Joakim Noah. All of this was overseen by the president of the BAL, Amadou Gallo Fall, making the event a truly exceptional experience for players, coaches, and industry leaders alike.
In Paris and other cities across the world, basketball is more than just a sport, it is a way of life. Fans of the game can attest to its cultural significance, as evidenced by the Quai 54 Streetball championship, which drew a significant number of players from the BAL last summer. This international gathering in the heart of Paris, which combines basketball and hip-hop culture, serves as a prime location for connecting and synergizing with talent across the continent, highlighting the significance of the relationship between the BAL and Paris on the global stage.
Leading to the combine, President of BAL Amadou Gallo Fall noted that “The second BAL Combine will allow our teams to evaluate a wider pool of players, including from across the African Diaspora, ahead of what promises to be a super competitive 2023 BAL season.”
As the start of the season approaches, the combine is expected to lead to the recruitment of new players for the various teams across the Sahara and Nile conferences, which are held in Dakar, Senegal, and Cairo, Egypt, respectively. The top four teams from each conference will then proceed to the eight-game, single-elimination playoffs and finals at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, from May 21-27.
With the connected dots and the global reach of the game, would it be unrealistic to soon see Zaire Wade and his father, NBA legend Dwyane Wade, in Kigali for the playoffs and finals in May? As a basketball fan, I say: “Pourquoi pas? Why not?”
Photo: Afrikball, 2019