AFRICA

BASKETBALL
DIPLOMACY
IN AFRICA
AN INTERVIEW WITH
AMADOU GALLO FALL
Bret Schafer
15
WINTER 2016 | @PD_Mag
HOW IS THE NBA USING BASKETBALL AS A
DIPLOMATIC TOOL IN AFRICA?
AN EVALUATION OF BASKETBALL WITHOUT BORDERS
Amadou Gallo Fall, a native of Senegal, is
leading the NBA’s efforts to expand and
build the NBA and basketball in Africa.
Previously, he worked for the Dallas
Mavericks as the Director of Player Personnel
and Vice President of International Affairs.
Fall now oversees the NBA’s grassroots
basketball development initiatives and its
partnerships with marketing, media, and
consumer product companies. This position
has allowed him to work with Basketball
Without Borders, the NBA and FIBA’s global
elite basketball development program, to
bring social change in the areas of health,
education, and wellness. Public Diplomacy
Magazine editor, Bret Schafer, had the
opportunity to interview Mr. Fall about his
experience working at the NBA Africa office
in Johannesburg, his work with Basketball
Without Borders, and the August 2015 NBA
game in Johannesburg.
In 2010, the NBA opened an
office in Johannesburg. Why
did the NBA decide the time was
right to establish a permanent
presence in Africa?
Gallo Fall: A number of players like Hakeem
Olajuwon and Dikembe Mutombo have
joined the league and changed the NBA’s
history with the continent, going back
to Hakeem being drafted number one
overall. So we always knew that there was
tremendous talent in the continent. Then in
2003, we launched the Basketball Without
Borders campaign. Fast-forward 10 years
and we have seen the potential, hunger, and
passion young people across the continent
have for our sport. There are an increasing
number of young players coming into our
league through programs like Basketball
Without Borders, providing the perfect
opportunity for us to better work with these
passionate young athletes and to connect
with our fans. At the end of the day, our
number one priority is to grow our fan base
globally. The NBA has opened offices in all
corners of the world, but Africa is rising and
we have always felt a connection with the
continent.
How did you first become involved
in the NBA in Africa?
GF: I worked for the Dallas Mavericks for 12
years prior to moving to the league [office].
I was part of Basketball Without Borders
from the very beginning. I have always had
a passion for the continent, its youth, and
basketball. When the position was created
and the thought process matured, I was
asked while I was still with the Mavs if I
would have interest. I said that this was a
job I would take even if I was not being paid
a dime because it combines all my interests.
My interests are (1) having an impact in
Africa and its future development; and (2)
using sport as a tool for connecting with
CULTURE PUBLIC-PRIVATE GOVERNMENT
WINTER 2016 | @PD_Mag
16