In a bid to enhance the foundation of professional basketball across Africa, the NBA and FIBA are reportedly in the preliminary stages of establishing a new African development league that will act as a feeder and support system for the Basketball Africa League (BAL).
According to reports from firstzealmediacastblog.worldpress.com, the proposed league is designed to operate on a merit-based competition system, assisting clubs throughout Africa in developing stronger sporting and operational infrastructures while preparing them for potential integration into the next phase of the BAL.
This initiative is anticipated to play a crucial role as the BAL transitions towards a franchise-based model featuring twelve permanent teams.
The development league will serve as a bridge between local competitions and the elite continental stage, providing emerging clubs and players with a clearer pathway to professional basketball at the highest African level.
Although the concept remains in its early stages, both the NBA and FIBA share a long-term vision of creating a sustainable basketball ecosystem that nurtures talent, enhances club management, and raises the competitive standards across Africa.
If successfully realised, this new development league could represent a significant advancement in achieving the BAL’s aspiration to not only showcase African basketball but also serve as a model for sustainable sports growth on a global scale.
