The Hawks’ John Collins will take part in the NBA Africa Game 2018, the league announced Friday. The second-year forward will be part of Team World in the game against Team World to be played on Aug. 4 in Pretoria, South Africa.
It will be the third year the NBA and National Basketball Players Association have held the exhibition game featuring Team Africa with players born in Africa or with direct family ties to the continent.
The roster for Team Africa is Luol Deng (Lakers), Ian Mahinmi (Wizard Al-Farouq Aminu (Trail Blazers), Bismack Biyombo (Hornets), Cheick Diallo (Pelicans), Joel Embiid (76ers), Evan Fournier (Magic), Serge Ibaka (Raptors), Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (Thunder), and Pascal Siakam (Raptors). Biyombo and Embiid will serve as co-captains. Team Africa will be coached by Heat assistant coach Juwan Howard.
The roster for Team World is Collins, JaVale McGee (Lakers), Dennis Smith Jr. (Mavericks), Marvin Williams (Hornets), Harrison Barnes (Mavericks), Danilo Gallinari (LA Clippers), Rudy Gay (Spurs), Khris Middleton (Bucks) and Hassan Whiteside (Heat). Gay and Middleton will serve as co-captains. Team World will be coached by Spurs assistant coach Ettore Messina.
NBPA executive director Michele Roberts and NBA commissioner Adam Silver along with several other team executives, coaches, trainers and referees will also attend.
The NBA Africa Game 2018 will take place following the 16th edition of Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Africa. In honor of the centenary of Nelson Mandela, the game will be played in support of the Nelson Mandela Foundation. The game was also played in 2015 and 2017 in Johannesburg.
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