NBA Africa has announced that a new subsidiary has been established in Kenya, with an office located in Westlands, Nairobi.
The NBA Kenya office will support all of the league’s business and basketball development initiatives in the country.
Nairobi becomes NBA Africa’s fifth office on the continent joining Cairo, Egypt; Dakar, Senegal; Johannesburg, South Africa, and Lagos, Nigeria.
Inaugurating the new office, the first of its kind in East Africa, NBA Africa held a Junior NBA clinic for 70 boys and girls ages 16 and under in Nairobi, in the presence of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper, NBA Africa CEO Victor Williams, BAL president Amadou Gallo Fall and NBA Kenya boss Finley.
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"The launch of our office in Nairobi reflects the enormous potential for basketball and the NBA in Kenya and across East Africa,” said Williams.
"Basketball is one of the most popular team sports among Kenyan youth, and having a year-round presence on the ground will allow us to work more closely with local stakeholders to further grow the game here and make it more accessible to fans and players across the country.”
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Finley assumes office
Michael Finley, U.S. native, was appointed to head the NBA Kenya as office’s Senior Director and Country Operations.
Finley has served as NBA Africa Director of Basketball Business Development for the past five years. Prior to joining the NBA, he spent more than two decades in a variety of basketball development roles on the continent, with a focus on East Africa.
Speaking on his responsibilities, he said, "I have been involved in the Kenyan basketball community for many years and have seen firsthand the passion for the game here,” said Finley.
"I am excited to lead the new office and look forward to growing our footprint in the region and positively impacting communities across the nation by creating new opportunities for youth to play the game and fans to interact with the NBA.”