Report: NBA's Basketball Africa League to hold 1st scouting combine this week
The NBA and FIBA's jointly launched Basketball Africa League (BAL) is holding its first-ever scouting combine Wednesday and Thursday at the Brooklyn Nets' practice facility, The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears reports.
Former NBA and NCAA head coach P.J. Carlesimo will serve as the camp's director, Spears adds. His staff will include former Los Angeles Lakers bench boss Paul Westhead and ex-NBA vets Theo Ratliff and Charlie Bell.
A number of past NBA and G League players are reportedly scheduled to try out.
The BAL is the NBA's first league outside of North America and will feature 12 teams from across Africa. Qualifying tournaments began in October to determine which teams from the 32 participating countries will be competing in the inaugural BAL season scheduled to begin in March 2020.
Teams can have 12 active and up to four inactive players on their rosters. Eight spots must be allocated to citizens of the teams' respective home countries and four can be from elsewhere - two apiece from within Africa and outside the continent.
The NBA has a long, storied history in Africa. Since 2003, the league has held its Basketball Without Borders instructional camp that's produced the likes of Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid and Pascal Siakam of the Toronto Raptors.