Eurostep Sunday: The NBA Africa game was way more than just a game

     On Saturday, the NBA held its very first exhibition game on African soil in Johannesburg, South Africa. The two teams facing each other were "Team World" and "Team Africa". After getting down by a lot of points, "Team World", which was captained by Chris Paul, found a way to get the win by the final score of 101-97. Bradley Beal of the Wizards was the leading scorer for "Team World" with 18 points. 

     But given the fact that this was an exhibition game, anybody who focuses squarely on what happened on the hardwood misses the whole significance of this game. What makes this game significant is that it is the first NBA exhibition game to ever be played on African soil. After years of having to watch NBA games from afar and seeing their best players leave to play in the NBA, African fans finally had the NBA come to them. It was the biggest step the NBA has made to let African fans know that they are appreciated and valued. 

     During the summer of 2007, I had the opportunity to visit three African countries: South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. I went on several safaris, visited communities, and saw some of the most breathtaking wonders of nature, namely Victoria Falls. 

     While it is a continent with a lot of struggles and issues, Africa at the same time is a beautiful place with beautiful people. Everybody I met there was really kind, humble, and authentic to who they are. In a world where so many people are exactly the opposite, it was refreshing to be around people who radiated such positive qualities. 

     With that in mind, I am glad that the NBA is making an effort to reach out to the wonderful people of Africa. They are not a group of people who will take this kind of outreach for granted. There were so many fans who got the biggest kick out of seeing Hakeem Olajuwon do the "Dream Shake" on their home soil and when Dikembe Mutombo checked into the game, countless other fans were smiling as well. 

     It's amazing how much good 40 minutes of basketball can do and that's not including the days leading up to the game, which were filled with basketball camps for kids and other activities. All in all, the NBA Africa game was so much more than just a game. It served as a symbol of hope and optimism for a wonderful group of people. 

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news