The National Basketball Association (NBA) has unveiled a new outdoor basketball court in Kenya, as part of a commitment by NBA Africa to build 1,000 courts on the continent over the next decade.
In partnership with Opportunity International, NBA Africa on Tuesday, May 27, unveiled the new outdoor basketball court at the Loiswell Academy in Kiambu County.
NBA Africa is an affiliate of the National Basketball Association, a global sports and media organisation with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.
Opportunity International, on the other hand, is a global nonprofit that has been equipping people to build sustainable livelihoods and educate their children for 54 years.
“The stage is set! Introducing our newly built court situated in the heart of Kiambu, Kenya, in partnership with @opportunityinternational! Here’s to continuing our mission to build 1000 courts across the continent,” said NBA Africa.
The new basketball court comes after the NBA in 2023 established a new subsidiary in the country, located in Westlands.
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NBA Africa in Kenya
The league’s Kenya office supports all of the league’s business and basketball development initiatives in the country and is led by NBA Kenya Senior Director and Country Operations Lead Michael Finley.
Egypt, Senegal, South Africa and Nigeria are the only other African countries hosting NBA offices.
While announcing its commitment to support the development of the sport in Kenya back in November 2023, NBA said it would implement grassroots programmes to nurture talent in the country.
The league said it would partner with the Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Education and Kenya Basketball Federation to develop a comprehensive basketball ecosystem.
This was in line with the Memorandum of Understanding signed in New York in September 2023 between the NBA and the Ministry of Sports in the presence of President William Ruto.
President Ruto described the initiative as a turning point in the development of the sport in the country.
He said the move will give Kenyan youth opportunity to pursue professional basketball.
“Professional basketball promises to enhance talent commercialization and transform the lives of our youth,” he said.
NBA Africa conducts the league’s business in Africa, including the Basketball Africa League (BAL), and has opened subsidiary offices in five African counties so far.
The league’s efforts on the continent have focused on increasing access to basketball and the NBA through youth and elite development, social responsibility, media distribution, corporate partnerships, NBA Africa Games, an NBA Store, the BAL, and more.
NBA and BAL games and programming are available in all 54 African countries, and the NBA has hosted three sold-out exhibition games on the continent since 2015.
BAL, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, is a professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa that tipped off its fifth season in April 2025.
Rwanda court
The new court in Kenya follows a similar development in Rwanda, where NBA Africa unveiled another court on the sidelines of the Basketball Africa League Nile Conference.
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Unveiled at Highland School in Nyamata, the court is fully equipped with brand-new basketball hoops and changing room facilities which Opportunity International said will provide safe spaces for boys and girls from the local communities to learn and play the game.
The court in Kigali was unveiled at a ribbon cutting ceremony in conjunction with BAL Nile Conference group phase by NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi, BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall, Opportunity International Executive Vice President, International Programs and Capital Solutions, Randy Kurtz, and two-time NBA All-Star and BAL Ambassador Luol Deng, which was followed by a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA clinic for 80 boys and girls ages 16 and under.
In addition, more than 50 local coaches had earlier taken part in a coaching clinic on the new court.
“The launch of this beautiful new court in Kigali reflects our commitment to making basketball more accessible to Rwandan boys and girls,” said Akamanzi.
“We look forward to continuing to work with Opportunity International to use basketball to positively impact youth and communities in Rwanda, Kenya, and across East Africa.”
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