The first-ever NBA exhibition game in Africa was held on Saturday, with the Nuggets getting representation from players past and present. The crowd roared early and often at Ellis Park Arena in downtown Johannesburg, South Africa, as the exhibition game pitted “Team World,” led by Chris Paul, against the home team, “Team Africa,” led by Luol Deng.
In the second quarter of Saturday’s game, African NBA legends Hakeem Olajuwon and Dikembe Mutombo stripped off their suits to don their 90s uniforms again, entering the game for team Africa.
8-time NBA All-Star and all-around legend Dikembe Mutombo gets standing ovation when he checks into the Africa Game. http://t.co/7KwInc6N1H
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 1, 2015
Mutombo stepped onto the court to deafening applause, in an all-white throwback Nuggets uniform, adorned across the middle with the renowned rainbow skyline, showing he’s still capable of swatting a ball into the second level and giving his infamous finger wag.
Mutombo was all smiles when he checked into the game, sharing the floor and the crowd, with Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon, who proved he still has game by nailing a flawless “Dream Shake” over Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic.
After a relaxed first half, the game got serious in the second: Team World rallied with a 14-0 run in the fourth quarter to beat Team Africa 101-97. Team Africa, made up entirely of players born in Africa or with African heritage, couldn’t hold off the late surge.
The game showcased the NBA, and basketball in some cases, to kids who’ve never had the opportunity to watch or play it.
“For me, as a kid, (I wanted) to play basketball and never had the access to meet NBA players, or watch NBA,” said Deng, who was born in South Sudan, via the Denver Post. “Now to be part of a team coming back to play for Africa. I can’t describe it.”
The 49-year-old Mutombo played the first five seasons of his NBA career in Denver. He is forever a part of Nuggets lore. The iconic image depicts Mutombo clutching the ball on the ground as he celebrates a 1994 playoff victory over the Seattle Supersonics. Considered by some to be the biggest upset in NBA history, it is perhaps the most celebrated moment in Denver basketball. It was nice to see him rocking a Nuggets uniform again.
Kenneth Faried, the Nuggets starting power forward, played for Team World in the exhibition, giving young fans in Africa a chance to watch the Nuggets, both new and old. Faried chipped in nine points and three rebounds in 15 minutes for Team World.
Bryce Rudnick, a Mile High Sports intern and CU-Boulder student, contributed to this report