Basketball Africa League story told in ‘Origin’ documentary: ‘This is only the beginning’

Hall of Famers Michael Jordan and the late Dikembe Mutombo, NBA commissioner Adam Silver and other basketball dignitaries with African ties were on hand for the announcement of the Basketball Africa League during an NBA All-Star 2019 luncheon in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Nearly seven years later, the BAL has grown into a successful league that has played basketball games all over Africa while showcasing its culture and producing NBA talent.

The full story of the BAL can be learned in the new documentary “Origin: The Story of the Basketball Africa League” that can be seen on ESPN+.

“What people are seeing today is a long time coming,” BAL president Amadou Gallo Fall told Andscape. “In such a short period of time, the Basketball Africa League has taken shape and grown interest from a global audience. There are really authentic stories from players that have grown before our own eyes. …

“The possibilities are limitless. It is possible to do big things on the continent when we put our mind, expertise and resources in it.”

“Origin” documents the creation and launch of the NBA’s first collaboration to operate a league outside of North America.

The BAL is a pan-African professional basketball league in partnership with FIBA featuring 12 top club teams competing in a caravan format. “Origin” captures the birth, challenged arrival and progress of the young league spearheaded by African natives such as Fall and former NBA executive Masai Ujiri.

The docuseries dives into BAL’s first season and its stories, including rapper and Rwanda Patriots Basketball Club guard J. Cole, coaches, and teams as they compete to be the BAL’s first champion in a coronavirus pandemic-protected environment. The four-part docuseries also includes interviews with former President Barack Obama and Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry.

“I hope American audiences discover an Africa that defies the tired narratives — watching these 12 teams from 12 nations compete for the first-ever BAL championship, you see a continent that is dynamic, diverse, and brimming with vitality, talent, and optimism,” “Origin” director Richard Brown told Andscape.

“Making this series, we came to understand the BAL as a truly visionary undertaking, and it was thrilling to witness Amadou and Masai overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to bring it to life. But what moved us most is how the BAL functions as a bridge between America and Africa — and it’s a bridge that travels both ways.”

The original BAL season was expected to be played in 2020, but it was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The inaugural BAL season took place from May 16-30, 2021, in a bio-secure bubble in Kigali, Rwanda. Since then, BAL contests have also been played in Senegal, South Africa, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco. The 2026 BAL season will include 12 club teams from 12 African countries playing 42 games in Pretoria, South Africa, and Rabat, Morocco,. The playoffs and title game will be held in Kigali, Rwanda.

Another notable accomplishment for BAL is developing talent through BAL Elevate, an NBA initiative that has annually placed 12 top prospects from the NBA Academy Africa on each BAL team. The following players have all played for BAL Elevate: Phoenix Suns center Khaman Maluach; former Toronto Raptors center Ulrich Chomche; Florida junior center Rueben Chinyelu; Santa Clara junior guard Thierry Darlan; Germany Riesen Ludwigsburg forward Babacar Sane; Wichita State senior forward Emmanuel Okorafor; and Brigham Young freshman forward Khadim Mboup.

The BAL also set an attendance record last season with more than 140,000 fans. The BAL generated more than 1.2 billion impressions across NBA and BAL social media channels in 2025. Andscape reported in October 2025 that the BAL could grow to 10 permanent franchises and two annual wild-card playoff teams beginning in 2027.

Insight into everything BAL is shown in “Origin.”

“Origin is about more than basketball. It’s about belief in African talent, leadership, and possibility,” Ujiri said. “The Basketball Africa League represents a new chapter, not just for the sport, but for the continent. This documentary captures the courage, vision, and relentless work of so many people who came together to bring this league to life, often against the odds.

“It tells an honest story about ownership, pride, and building something that belongs to Africa. And while we’re proud of how far we’ve come, this is only the beginning. There is still so much work to be done. I’m excited for the world to see where it all began, and where it’s going.”

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