Pelicans forward Cheick Diallo to participate in NBA Africa Game 2018

The NBA Africa Game 2018 will once again feature a Team Africa vs. Team World format.  Team Africa will be composed of players born in Africa or with direct family ties to the continent, and Team World will be composed of players from the rest of the world. The NBA Africa Game 2018 will take place following the 16th edition of Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Africa.

In honor the centenary of Nelson Mandela, the game will be played in support of the Nelson Mandela Foundation. The NBA Africa Game 2018 will air live in sub-Saharan Africa on Kwesé Free Sports, Kwesé Sports 1, the Kwesé TV app, as well as Kwesé’s partner pay-TV and free-to-air channels.

Diallo, who is a native of Kayes, Mali, will suit up on Team Africa with Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers; Cameroon), Al-Farouq Aminu (Portland Trail Blazers; parents from Nigeria), Bismack Biyombo (Orlando Magic; Democratic Republic of the Congo), Evan Fournier (Magic; parent from Algeria), Serge Ibaka (Toronto Raptors; Republic of the Congo), Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (76ers; parent from Democratic Republic of the Congo), and Pascal Siakam (Toronto Raptors; Cameroon).
Team World will include DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors; U.S.), Harrison Barnes (Dallas Mavericks; U.S.), Danilo Gallinari (LA Clippers; Italy), Rudy Gay (San Antonio Spurs; U.S.), Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks; U.S.), and Hassan Whiteside (Miami Heat; U.S.).

The NBA has held two sold-out Africa Games, in Johannesburg in 2015 and 2017, in support of charities including UNICEF, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and SOS Children’s Villages South Africa (SOSCVSA).  There are more than 80 current and former NBA players from Africa or with direct family ties to the continent, including Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigeria) and Dikembe Mutombo (Democratic Republic of the Congo).

For more information, fans can register at www.NBA.com/AfricaGame, visit www.NBA.com/Africa, and follow the NBA on Facebook (NBA Africa) and Twitter (@NBA_Africa).