Durban -
The National Basketball Association (NBA) trophy bounced into Durban on Monday, as part of a global tour to celebrate the forthcoming basketball season in the US which starts next Tuesday.
The tour aims to promote the sport and the American league. Before coming to Durban, the trophy had made stops in Canada, Brazil and Angola.
“The trophy would also be going to Cape Town and Robben Island, and then Johannesburg where it will be on display at the Beyond Sport Summit and Awards,” said NBA associate director for Basketball Operations for Africa, Kita Matungulu.
The Larry O’Brien Trophy, named after a former NBA commissioner, stands 62.2cm tall, weighs 7kg and is coated with 24 carat gold.
He said they were touring with it to promote and develop the sport in Africa. As part of this initiative, players from the continent, aged 16 and 17, are being sent to a training camp in North West province, where they will also be given the chance to study.
Matungulu said that as part of the Basketball Without Borders programme – an initiative of the NBA with the Royal Bafokeng Trust – eight development players had been sent to the NBA league since 2003.
He said the programme developed playing skills but also focusesd on providing players with an education.
Durban Tourism head, Phillip Sithole, said he was honoured to have the trophy in Durban.
Also delighted to have the trophy in the city was Olympic medallist Chad le Clos. Pawel Weszka, one of the organisers, said Le Clos was “ a great fan of the game and had even watched a few games in 2012. We were honoured to have him”.