Fresh off a contract extension, Ujiri announced his organization will build basketball courts in underserved communities across Africa.
Toronto Raptors vice chairman and team president Masai Ujiri is continuing his commitment to basketball in his native Africa in a major way. His Giants of Africa organization announced on Wednesday that it is committed to building 100 basketball courts throughout the continent as part of a multi-year investment.
The courts will be strategically located in underserved communities, the organization said. Additionally, at least 10 more courts will be built and refurbished over the next three months in Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso as part of its “Built Within” initiative.
Founded by Ujiri in 2003, the not-for-profit Giants of Africa has expanded its footprint beyond basketball, providing skills training and personal development from basketball, health, and wellness to leadership and social impact.
“Since we began investing in the future of sports in Africa over the last two decades, it became clear that camps and programming were not enough to create long-term opportunities for growth in sports,” Ujiri said.
“These public spaces have the power to unite communities, build togetherness and improve quality of life for all people.”
The commitment to basketball in Africa over the last year has been notable, led by the NBA’s formation of Basketball Africa, a billion-dollar entity that will oversee the league’s operations on the continent. Over the summer, the inaugural season of the Basketball Africa League took the form of a two-week tournament that was a celebration of sports, music, and African culture, showcasing the sport’s potential across the continent.
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Now, Ujiri’s unwavering commitment to his native Nigeria and the whole continent begins a new chapter in bringing the power of sports to thousands more in communities that need it most.
“Sports are one of the best ways that we can help our young people achieve their goals and I look forward to hearing the stories of the thousands of young people who will be able to utilize these courts to help make their communities stronger over the next 10 years and beyond,” Ujiri said.
