Six NBA Academy Africa alumni, 23 coaches, and top BAL referees headline the continent’s biggest-ever Summer League presence.
Oliver Ochieng
The 2025 NBA 2K26 Summer League tipped off on July 10 in Las Vegas, showcasing a historic African presence with six former NBA Academy Africa players, 23 coaches from 15 African countries, and three BAL referees taking part, with the tournament’s curtains coming down on 20 July.
According to the NBA, the participation of these players, coaches and referees is part of NBA Africa and the BAL’s commitment to “developing talent and expertise throughout the African basketball ecosystem, and contributing to the continued growth of the game across the continent.”
The six former NBA Academy Africa players in the Summer League rosters are Ibou Badji (Denver Nuggets; Senegal) Jean-Jacques Boissy (Milwaukee Bucks; Senegal), Ulrich Chomche (Toronto Raptors; Cameroon), who was selected 57th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, Nelly Joseph Junior (Atlanta Hawks; Nigeria), Babacar Sané (Minnesota Timberwolves; Senegal) and Khaman Maluach (Phoenix Suns; South Sudan with ties to Uganda).
Khaman Maluach was recently selected 10th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, becoming the highest-drafted former NBA Academy Africa and Basketball Africa League (BAL) player ever.
Additionally, three players who participated in the 2025 BAL season are competing in the Summer League, led by Boissy – the 2025 BAL champion and MVP with Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya).
He was a key player for Al Ahli Tripoli, as he averaged 18.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 1.9 assists per game, enroute to the BAL title against Angola’s Petro de Luanda on 14 June.
The other player is Aliou Diarra (Mali; Dallas Mavericks), a two-time Dikembe Mutombo BAL Defensive Player of the Year (2023 and 2025) and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA G League International Draft.
Sané, the 2025 All-BAL Second Team as a member of US Monastir (Tunisia) completes the ‘A-game’ list.
Moreover, 23 coaches from 15 African countries are participating in Summer League as part of the Africa Coaches Program, which is part of NBA Africa and the BAL’s ongoing commitment to developing coaching talent across the continent.
Egypt leads the park with four coaches, while Senegal and South Africa produced three tacticians apiece.
Full list of the 23 coaches:
Solo Diabaté (Bucks; Côte d’Ivoire)
Carlos Morais (New York Knicks; Angola)
Marawan Sarhan (Miami Heat; Egypt)
Mostafa Kejo (Los Angeles Lakers; Egypt)
Lamine Krideche (Cleveland Cavaliers, Algeria)
Francois Enyegue (Charlotte Hornets, Cameroon)
Antonio Moreira (Atlanta Hawks, Cape Verde)
Pierrot Ilunga (Detroit Pistons, DRC)
Wael Badr (Portland Blazers, Egypt)
Haytham Kamel (Utah Jazz, Egypt)
Fenan Atobrhan (Houston Rockets, Eritrea)
Ruth Bibeyi (Indiana Pacers, Gabon)
Reda Rhalimi (Denver Nuggets, Morocco)
Akil Driss (Toronto Raptors, Morocco)
Mohammed Abdulrahman (Washington Wizards, Nigeria)
Prosper Naci (Philadelphia 76ers, Rwanda)
Abdallah Mbaye (Chicago Bulls, Senegal)
Matar Mbodji (Dallas Mavericks, Senegal)
Samba Fall (San Antonio Spurs, Senegal)
Moratiemang Jr. Mmoloke (Boston Celtics, South Africa)
Igor Lunnemann (New Orleans Pelicans, South Africa)
Lindokuhle Sibankulu (Sacramento Kings, South Africa)
Amine Rzig (LA Clippers, Tunisia)
Angola’s Claudio Eiuba, and Kenyans Vitalis Gode and Erick Otieno are the three referees who have previously officiated in the BAL serving as Summer League officials.
All 30 NBA teams are playing in Las Vegas for the seventh straight edition, as this year marks the 20th NBA Summer League.
