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2021 BAL season

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The 2021 BAL season, also known as BAL Season 1, was the inaugural season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL). Established as a joint effort between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and FIBA, the BAL is the highest tier continental league of Africa, replacing the FIBA Africa Basketball League.[1] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the BAL held its inaugural season one year later as planned, with the season beginning in 2021.[2][3] Initially the league planned to play in six venues in six countries; however, due to the pandemic the season was held in a bio-secure bubble in Kigali, Rwanda. The season began on 16 May 2021 and ended on 30 May 2021.[4]

2021 BAL season
LeagueBasketball Africa League
Season2021
Dates16 – 30 May 2021
Games played26
Teams12
Regular season
Season MVPWalter Hodge
(Zamalek)
Finals
ChampionsEgypt Zamalek (1st title)
  Runners-upTunisia US Monastir
Third placeAngola Petro de Luanda
Fourth placeRwanda Patriots
Statistical leaders
Points Terrell Stoglin (AS Salé) 30.8
Rebounds Ibrahima Thomas (Police) 12.0
Assists Myck Kabongo (Ferroviário) 6.8
Records
Biggest home win47 points
GNBC 66–113 US Monastir
(12 May 2021)
Winning streak6 games
Zamalek
Highest attendance1,789
US Monastir 63–76 Zamalek
(30 May 2021)
Seasons

The qualifying rounds for the season were held from 16 October to 21 December 2019, with national champion of each African country has the opportunity to qualify through the qualifying rounds. Meanwhile, six national champions directly qualified for the regular season to make a total of twelve teams in the main tournament.

Zamalek won the first-ever BAL championship after beating US Monastir in the finals and going undefeated over the season.[5]

Organisation

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The plans to establish the BAL by FIBA and the NBA were first revealed in February 2019 during the 2019 NBA All-Star Game.[6]

In August 2019, the seven host cities for the BAL season were announced.[7] Additionally, it was revealed that the inaugural BAL Final Four would be played in the Kigali Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. BAL president Amadou Gallo Fall, later announced at the NBA All-Star 2020 Africa Luncheon in Chicago, that the season was planned to tip off on 13 March 2020.[8] On 20 February 2020, it was announced that the 12 teams were to be drawn in two conferences, named the Sahara and Nile Conferences.[9]

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

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See also: COVID-19 pandemic in Africa

On 3 March 2020, the BAL announced it was postponing its inaugural season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] The decision was made following recommendations of the Senegalese government.

In November, the start of the inaugural season was delayed for a second time and the new season was moved to a later to be announced date in 2021.[11] In March it was announced the league would commence in May 2021. The complete event was rescheduled to be held in the Kigali Arena and the regular season changed its format from two groups to three groups of four.[4] All twelve teams were hosted in a bio-secure bubble in which all players were regularly tested for COVID-19. All games were broadcast live by ESPN Africa.[12]

Qualification

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The twelve teams for the inaugural BAL season had to qualify in their domestic competitions to be able to play in the league, similar to other FIBA-organised competitions. Six teams qualified directly as their national champions while an additional six teams qualified through regional qualifying tournaments.

Direct qualification

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FIBA announced that the national champions of six member associations would be directly qualified for the regular season. These teams are from countries which are also hosts cities for the regular season, except for Final Four host Rwanda.[7] On 23 October 2019, AS Douanes won the Senegalese national championship, becoming the first club to qualify.[13]

Directly qualified teams
No. Country Team Notes
1   Angola Petro de Luanda Directly Qualified
2   Egypt Zamalek
3   Morocco AS Salé
No. Country Team Notes
4   Nigeria Rivers Hoopers Directly Qualified
5   Senegal AS Douanes
6   Tunisia US Monastir

Qualifying tournaments

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Main article: 2020 BAL Qualifying Tournaments

Each of the FIBA Africa member associations was able to register one team from its country to participate in the qualifying tournaments. A total of 31 teams played in the first round, which was divided into six groups in six different host cities.[14] The qualification tournaments started on 16 October and will end 21 December 2019.

Teams and countries playing in the 2020 BAL Qualifying Tournaments
No. Country Team Notes
1   Algeria GS Pétroliers Qualified
2   Benin ASPAC
3   Botswana Dolphins
4   Burundi Dynamo
5   Cameroon FAP
Qualified
6   CAF Abeilles
Withdrew
7   Comoros Usoni
8   DR Congo ASB Mazembe
9   Ethiopia Hawassa City
10   Gabon Manga
11   Ghana Braves of Customs
12   Guinea SLAC
13   Ivory Coast ABC
14   Kenya KPA
15   Liberia NPA Pythons
16   Libya Al-Nasr Benghazi
No. Country Team Notes
17   Madagascar GNBC
Qualified
18   Malawi Brave Hearts
Withdrew
19   Mali AS Police
Qualified
20   Mozambique Ferroviário de Maputo
Qualified
21   Namibia Lions Club
22   Niger AS Nigelec
23   Rwanda Patriots
Qualified
24   Seychelles Beau Vallon Heat
25   South Africa Jozi Nuggets
26   South Sudan Cobra
27   Tanzania JKT
28   Uganda City Oilers
29   Zambia UNZA Pacers
30   Zimbabwe Mercenaries
31   Equatorial Guinea Virgen Maria de Africa

Teams

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Qualified teams

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Team Home city Qualified as Qualified on
  US Monastir Monastir, Tunisia Winners of the 2018–19 Championnat National A 1 May 2019
  Zamalek Cairo, Egypt Winners of the 2018–19 Egyptian Super League 4 May 2019
  Petro de Luanda Luanda, Angola Winners of the 2018–19 Angolan Basketball League 25 May 2019
  AS Salé Salé, Morocco Winners of the 2018–19 Division Excellence 30 May 2019
  AS Douanes Dakar, Senegal Winners of the 2019 Nationale 1 season 23 October 2019
  Rivers Hoopers Port Harcourt, Nigeria Winners of the 2019 NBBF President Cup 17 November 2019[15]
  GS Pétroliers Algiers, Algeria West Division winners 30 November 2019[16]
  FAP Yaoundé, Cameroon West Division runners-up 30 November 2019[16]
  AS Police Bamako, Mali West Division third place 1 December 2019[17]
  Patriots Kigali, Rwanda East Division winners 21 December 2019
  GNBC Antsirabe, Madagascar East Division runners-up 21 December 2019[18]
  Ferroviário de Maputo Maputo, Mozambique East Division third place 22 December 2019

Personnel and sponsorship

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Team Head coach Team captain
AS Douanes   Pabi Gueye[19]   Alkaly Ndour
AS Salé   Said El Bouzidi[20]   Zakaria El Masbahi
AS Police   Babacar Kanouté[19]   Badra Samaké[21]
FAP   Lazare Adingono[22]   Ebaku Akumenzoh
Ferroviário de Maputo   Milagre Macome[19]   Custódio Muchate
GNBC   Lova Navalona Raharidera[19]   Francis Mory
GS Pétroliers   Sofiane Boulahia[23]   Mustapha Adrar
Patriots   Alan Major[24]   Aristide Mugabe
Petro de Luanda   José Neto[25]   Leonel Paulo
Rivers Hoopers   Ogoh Odaudu[19]   Belema Alamin
US Monastir   Mounir Ben Slimane   Radhouane Slimane
Zamalek   Augustí Julbe[22]   Haytham Elsaharty

Foreign players

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In line with league rules, each BAL team was allowed to have four foreign players on its roster, including only two non-African players.

Team
Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4
AS Douanes   Chris Cokley[26]   Hassan Attia[26]   Mohamed Sadi[26] —
AS Salé   Ra'Shad James[27]   Terrell Stoglin[28]   Johndre Jefferson[27] —
AS Police   Ibrahima Thomas[27]   Jawachi Nzeakor[29]   Mylo Mitchell[27] —
FAP   Abdoulaye Harouna[30]   Marcus Thomas[30]   Matthew Hezekiah —
Ferroviário de Maputo   Adjehi Baru[31]   Álvaro Calvo Masa[31]   Demarcus Holland[31]   Myck Kabongo
GNBC   Cameron Ridley[32] — — —
GS Pétroliers — — — —
Patriots   Jermaine Cole[33]   Bush Wamukota[34]   Brandon Costner[33] —
Petro de Luanda   Ryan Richards[35]   Antwan Scott[27] — —
Rivers Hoopers   Robinson Opong[36]   Chris Daniels[37]   Taren Sullivan[37] —
US Monastir   Ater Majok[22]   Wael Arakji[22]   Chris Crawford[27] —
Zamalek   Chinemelu Elonu[38]   Michael Fakuade[39]   Walter Hodge[22]   Mouloukou Diabate[40]


Venues

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class=notpageimage|
Location of venues of the 2020 BAL season.
  Red: Sahara Conference;   Yellow: Nile Conference;   Grey: Playoffs & Finals.

On 1 August 2019, the NBA announced the seven host cities for the regular season.[7] Six cities in six countries would host the regular season games, with three assigned to each conference. The Kigali Arena in Kigali, Rwanda was announced as venue for the inaugural Final Four. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, it was later decided that the entire event was to be played at the Kigali Arena.[4]

Proposed venues of the inaugural BAL season before the format change
Arena Capacity Location
Dakar Arena
15,000
 Dakar, Senegal
Cairo Stadium Indoor Halls Complex
16,500
 Cairo, Egypt
Salle El Bouâzzaoui
2,000
 Salé, Morocco
Kilamba Arena
12,270
 Luanda, Angola
Kigali Arena (Final Four)
10,000
 Kigali, Rwanda
National Stadium
3,000[41]
 Lagos, Nigeria
Mohamed-Mzali Sports Hall
4,075
 Monastir, Tunisia

Schedule

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Phase Round Draw date Games
Qualifying First round 9 October 2019 15 October – 3 November 2019
Elite 16 21 November 2019 26 November – 22 December 2019
Group phase 29 March 2021 16–24 May 2021
Playoffs Quarter-finals 26–27 May 2021
Semi-finals 29 May 2021
Final and third place 30 May 2021

Qualifying tournaments

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Main article: 2021 BAL qualification
 
The official reveal of the Basketball Africa League logo during the qualifiers in Kigali

In the qualifying rounds, 32 teams from 32 countries participated in the West and East Division. The first round began 15 October and ended 3 November 2019, with sixteen teams advancing to the second round. The second-round games began 26 November and will end 22 December 2019, with six teams qualifying for the regular season.

Rosters

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Main article: 2021 BAL season rosters

Transactions

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Main article: List of 2021 BAL season transactions

Group phase

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Main article: 2021 BAL group phase
 
BAL players wearing masks due to the measurements taken against COVID-19 at the tournament

The group phase began on 16 May 2021 and ended on 24 May 2021. Initially, it was planned that in the regular season, the twelve teams would play in two Conferences with six teams each. Each team would play five games, one against each opponent, inside its conference. The top three teams from each conference would advance to the Super 6.[42] The regular season would be played in six arenas divided over the African continent.[42]

The format was changed to a group phase as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was completely played at the Kigali Arena. In three groups of four each team plays the other one time and the first, second and best third-placed teams advance to the playoffs.[4]

Group A

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Pos Team
 Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification USM PAT RIV GNB
1   US Monastir 3 3 0 303 211 +92 6 Advance to playoffs — — 91–75 —
2   Patriots (H) 3 2 1 236 223 +13 5 — — 83–60 78–72
3   Rivers Hoopers 3 1 2 210 251 −41 4 70–99 — — —
4   GNBC 3 0 3 207 271 −64 3 66–113 — 69–80 —
Source: BAL
(H) Hosts

Group B

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Pos Team
 Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification PDL ASS FAP POL
1   Petro de Luanda 3 3 0 247 208 +39 6 Advance to playoffs — 97–78 — 84–66
2   AS Salé 3 2 1 253 260 −7 5 — — 87–84 88–79
3   FAP 3 1 2 235 218 +17 4 64–66 — — 87–65
4   AS Police 3 0 3 210 259 −49 3 — — —
Source: BAL

Group C

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Pos Team
 Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification ZAM FVM ASD GSP
1   Zamalek 3 3 0 254 181 +73 6 Advance to playoffs — 71–55 — 97–64
2   Ferroviário de Maputo 3 2 1 229 218 +11 5 — — 88–74 —
3   AS Douanes 3 1 2 230 250 −20 4 62–86 — — 94–76
4   GS Pétroliers 3 0 3 213 277 −64 3 — 73–86 — —
Source: BAL

Ranking of third-placed teams

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Pos Grp Team
 Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 B   FAP 3 1 2 235 218 +17 4 Advance to playoffs
2 C   AS Douanes 3 1 2 230 250 −20 4
3 A   Rivers Hoopers 3 1 2 210 251 −41 4
Source: BAL

Playoffs

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Main article: 2021 BAL Playoffs

All eight qualified teams from the group stage were ranked and seeded to determine the match-ups. The play-offs games were played in a single-elimination format.[4][43] The playoffs began on 26 May and ended on 30 May 2021 with the 2021 BAL Finals.[44]

Bracket

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QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinals
 
          
 
27 May
 
 
1
  US Monastir		86
 
29 May
 
8
  AS Douanes 		62
 
1
  US Monastir		87
 
27 May
 
4
  Patriots		46
 
4
  Patriots		73
 
30 May
 
5
  Ferroviário de Maputo		71
 
1
  US Monastir		63
 
26 May
 
2
  Zamalek 		76
 
2
  Zamalek 		82
 
29 May
 
7
  FAP 		53
 
2
  Zamalek		89
 
26 May
 
3
  Petro de Luanda		71 Third place game
 
3
  Petro de Luanda		79
 
30 May
 
6
  AS Salé		72
 
4
  Patriots		68
 
 
3
  Petro de Luanda		97
 

Final standings

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Position Team Record
1   Zamalek 6–0
2   US Monastir 5–1
3   Petro de Luanda 5–1
4   Patriots 3–3
5   Ferroviário de Maputo 2–2
6   AS Salé 2–2
7   FAP 1–3
8   AS Douanes 1–3
9   Rivers Hoopers 1–2
10   AS Police 0–3
11   GS Pétroliers 0–3
12   GNBC 0–3

Awards

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Statistics

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The following were the statistical leaders in 2021 BAL season.[49]

Team statistic leaders

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Category Team Statistic
Points per game US Monastir 89.9
Rebounds per game FAP 42.0
Assists per game US Monastir 24.4
Steals per game 11.0
Blocks per game Rivers Hoopers 5.3
Turnovers per game GS Pétroliers 22.0
Fouls per game 25.7
FG% Zamalek 49.9%
FT% Ferroviário de Maputo 78.9%
3FG% US Monastir 36.1%

Controversies

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The BAL has faced criticism by The Guardian over its close ties with the Rwandan government in organising the league, using the league as a vehicle for sportswashing by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, pointing to ongoing repression and human rights abuses under his regime.[50]

On May 10, 2021, American rapper J. Cole signed a contract with the Rwanda-based Patriots.[51] In three games with the team, he scored five points, had three assists and five rebounds in 45 minutes of gameplay. Terrell Stoglin of AS Salé states about the signing: "For a guy who has so much money and has another career to just come here and average, like, one point a game and still get glorified is very disrespectful to the game. It's disrespectful to the ones who sacrificed their whole lives for this."[52]

References

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  1. ^ "NBA, FIBA launching 12-team league in Africa; Barack Obama to have hands-on role". USA Today.
  2. ^ "NBA's Basketball Africa League to debut May 16 in Rwanda". ESPN. 29 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Basketball Africa League postpones start of inaugural season". NBA.com. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Basketball Africa League to tip off historic inaugural season in May". Basketball Africa League. 29 March 2021. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Egypt's Zamalek wins inaugural Basketball Africa League". NBA.com. 2021-07-01. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
  6. ^ Reynolds, Tim. "NBA, FIBA announce plans for pro league in Africa". NBA.com. Retrieved 2019-02-17.
  7. ^ a b c "NBA's Basketball Africa League Reveals Seven Host Cities for Inaugural Season". Sports Video Group. August 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  8. ^ "FIBA Press Release - February 15, 2020: Basketball Africa League announces the 12 teams that will compete in inaugural season".
  9. ^ "BAL Conferences are drawn: Nile and Sahara Conference". 20 February 2020. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  10. ^ "Basketball Africa League postpones start of inaugural season". NBA.com. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  11. ^ "BAL inaugural season postponed to 2021". The New Times. 12 November 2020.
  12. ^ "NBA's Basketball Africa League to debut May 16". ESPN.com. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  13. ^ "L'As Douanes représentera le Sénégal au Basketball Africa League". Senego.com. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  14. ^ "African clubs to compete in qualifying tournaments for the Basketball Africa League confirmed". FIBA Africa. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  15. ^ "River Hoopers win 2019 NBBF President's Cup, qualify for Basketball Africa League". 18 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  16. ^ a b "GSP, FAP qualify to the regular season of Basketball Africa League 2020". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  17. ^ "AS Police secure maiden Basketball Africa League ticket". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  18. ^ "GNBC flair sparks life into Basketball Africa League Qualifiers". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  19. ^ a b c d e "Who are the 12 head coaches at the inaugural Basketball Africa League?". FIBA.basketball. 23 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  20. ^ "Who are the five new head coaches in the Basketball Africa League?". FIBA. 25 August 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  21. ^ "AS Police captain Samake: They'll respect us at BAL". FIBA. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  22. ^ a b c d e "New signings dominate Basketball Africa League teams' latest moves". FIBA.basketball. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  23. ^ "GSP coach Boulahia: We will be outsiders at the BAL". 1 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  24. ^ "Basketball: Patriots sign new American coach Alan Major". The New Times Rwanda. 24 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  25. ^ "Angolan champions Petro de Luanda hire Brazilian Jose Neto as new head coach". FIBA. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  26. ^ a b c "L'AS Douanes se renforce et signent quatre recrues pour la Basketball Africa League". wiwsport (in French). 26 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  27. ^ a b c d e f "BAL Rosters Unveiled". Twitter. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  28. ^ "BAL - Basket-ball : Les clubs affûtent leurs armes pour la compétition | Africa Foot United". africafootunited.com (in French). Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  29. ^ Faye, Matt (27 April 2021). "LU alum Josh Nzeakor to play in NBA's new Basketball Africa League". Beaumont Enterprise. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  30. ^ a b "Cameroon's FAP out to conquer the continent at newly-launched Basketball Africa League". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  31. ^ a b c "Manso, Holland, Baru e Obgonna reforçam Ferroviário de Maputo na BAL". Lance (in European Portuguese). 27 April 2021. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  32. ^ "Basketball Africa League : Cameron DeVon Ridley en renfort de GNBC | NewsMada". Newsmada.com (in French). 26 April 2021. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  33. ^ a b "Patriots coach confirms rapper J. Cole on club's roster for Basketball Africa League". The New Times Rwanda. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  34. ^ "Wamukota joins Rwanda's Patriots with Basketball Africa League title in mind". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  35. ^ "Petro de Luanda já em Kigali para a BAL - ANGOP". Agência Angola Press. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  36. ^ "Basketball: Rivers Hoopers sign Ugandan star to replace injured Ezeli". Premium Times. 22 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  37. ^ a b "Rivers Hoopers add Chris Daniels and Taren Sullivan to BAL roster". Rivers Hoopers. 15 April 2021. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  38. ^ "Al Zamalek tabs Chinemelu Elonu for BAL". Afrobasket.com. 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  39. ^ "Michael Fakuade joins Zamalek for the BAL". The BAL Report. 17 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  40. ^ Abduljalil, Yusuf (17 April 2021). "Al Zamalek tabs Souleyman Diabate". Afrobasket.com. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  41. ^ "Lagos ready to take over Surulere National Stadium – Ambode". March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  42. ^ a b "NBA's Basketball Africa League Gets One Step Closer To Reality With Announcement Of Host Cities". Forbes. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  43. ^ "Rwanda to host NBA's Africa League final". The East African. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  44. ^ "BAL Announced Inaugural Playoffs Schedule". BAL. 24 May 2021. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  45. ^ a b "Zamalek are the champions of the inaugural Basketball Africa League". www.thebal.com. Archived from the original on 30 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  46. ^ @theBAL (4 June 2021). "The Manute Bol BAL Sportsmanship Award went to US Monastir's Makrem Ben Romdhane, for exemplifying the ideals of sportsmanship on the court with ethical behavior, fair play, and integrity" (Tweet). Retrieved 9 April 2022 – via Twitter.
  47. ^ "Hichem Benayad-Cherif Receives Inaugural Basketball Africa League Ubuntu Award". The Guardian Nigeria News. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  48. ^ @theBAL (4 June 2021). "The All-BAL First Team. ⭐" (Tweet). Retrieved 6 June 2021 – via Twitter.
  49. ^ "Basketball Africa League Best Individual Games - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  50. ^ "The NBA's alignment with Rwanda's repressive leader was headscratching". the Guardian. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  51. ^ ALBERTIE, QUENTON S. (April 28, 2021). "J. COLE TO SIGN DEAL WITH BASKETBALL AFRICA LEAGUE'S RWANDA PATRIOTS". Slam.
  52. ^ Zucker, Joseph. "J. Cole Playing in Basketball Africa League Is 'Disrespectful,' Terrell Stoglin Says". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
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