In the front row with the NBA's giants of basketball

30 July 2015 - 02:02 By Sbu Mjikeliso

It was like being in the front row seats of the All Star Weekend for the kids of the American School of Johannesburg, who yesterday got a chance to be tutored by Chris Paul, Luol Deng and other top NBA stars. A glittering array of basketball players, coaches, former players and administrators made their first public appearance yesterday ahead of the Team World versus Team Africa exhibition game.It will be the first NBA-sanctioned basketball game held in Africa.Paul said he was thrilled to have the opportunity to transfer some NBA knowledge to youngsters.It is his first time on the continent and his first trip with the Basketball Without Borders initiative, who along with the NBA, NBA Africa and the Department of Sport put the exhibition game together."I'm excited about getting into the gym and showing the kids a few things," said Paul."But the main thing I wanna impart to them is that they must always believe in themselves - no matter how clichéd it sounds."I come from a small town in North Carolina and when I was growing up there wasn't really anyone to look up to, guys who had made it onto the NBA."My heroes growing up were my parents and Michael Jordan."In the greater scheme of things though, this trip means a lot to me. I'm going into my 11th season in the NBA, which involves a lot of travelling, but this is a once-in-a -lifetime opportunity."Names such as Giannis "the Greek Freak" Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee Bucks, Bismarck ''the Business" Biyombo from the Toronto Raptors and championship winner with Golden State Warriors Festus Ezeli just roll off the tongue.If you add Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards, Kenneth Faried of the Denver Nuggets and Gorgui Dieng you begin to under-stand that this is the closest Africa has come to a seat at an All Star game...

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