New Kings

A compelling, eye-opening chronicle of the rise of basketball in modern Africa and the burgeoning talent pipeline poised to transform the NBA

For a long time, hoop dreams born in Africa felt unattainable. The game had a small presence on the continent, taking a back seat to sports like soccer and track and field. Lacking a clear pathway to the NBA, players such as Hakeem Olajuwon, Dikembe Mutombo, and Manute Bol needed extraordinary luck to make it.

But over the past 30 years, the basketball landscape has transformed dramatically. Fueled by the NBA's heightened presence and investment, infrastructure has improved, access has expanded, and a pipeline to the best teams in America has been built. The results are beginning to show: at the opening of the 2025-26 NBA season, more than 55 players were from Africa or were first-generation members of the diaspora, including recent MVPs Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo. That number is expected to climb in the years to come.

Through extensive reporting on the journeys of four young prospects, New Kings chronicles the rise and future of basketball in Africa. At its core, it is a human story, universal in scope, about hope, perseverance, and the chasing of a dream that no longer feels out of reach.