Kagame and the NBA president engage in discussions

President Paul Kagame on Monday, February 16 engaged in discussions with Adam Silver, Commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA), and Mark Tatum, Deputy Commissioner of the league, focusing on the game in Rwanda and Africa.

The president’s office stated that the discussions centered on Rwanda’s partnership with the NBA and the collaborative efforts to advance basketball and cultivate youth talent throughout Africa.

Preparations for the sixth season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) were also discussed, with the playoffs set to take place in Kigali from May 22–31.

Rwanda’s connection with the NBA has progressively strengthened in recent years, establishing the nation as a center for basketball development in Africa.

In 2019, Visit Rwanda, the country’s premier tourism promotion initiative, emerged as the founding host partner of the Basketball Africa League (BAL), a professional league established by the NBA and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

Kigali has been the venue for several BAL seasons, starting with the inaugural edition in 2021, where matches took place at the BK Arena. The league has attracted both continental and international attention, enhancing sports tourism and demonstrating Rwanda’s ability to host prestigious global sporting events.

In addition to hosting, Rwanda has collaborated with the NBA on initiatives aimed at grassroots development. Through camps, clinics, and youth outreach programs, young Rwandan players and coaches have acquired exposure to top-tier training methods and global networks.

Rwanda’s involvement in the NBA ecosystem has also reached franchise-level collaborations.

In 2025, Visit Rwanda formed a multi-year partnership with the Los Angeles Clippers, establishing itself as the team’s official tourism partner and jersey patch sponsor. This marked a historic first for an African tourism brand to engage in such a deal with an NBA franchise.