What's it like to be a former NBA player in the BAL?

There have been several former NBA players in the Basketball Africa League (BAL), but how do they feel about being part of a league that is celebrating its fifth anniversary this season?

The list of former NBA players remains a regular feature of the BAL. Every year since 2021, one or two former NBA players have shared their talents in the BAL.

Ben Uzoh, who scored the first points in BAL history in 2021, played in the NBA for the New Jersey Nets, before joining the Toronto Raptors. He played for Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers in the BAL.

Joshua Hall, Ike Diogu, DJ Strawberry and Jamel Artis have all had a taste of the BAL experience, though none have ever won the league title.

We sat down with Al Ittihad's newest recruit, former Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks player, George King.

What does it mean to you to be part of the BAL?

I am happy and grateful to be here. This is my first time on the continent, my first time here in Africa. Killing two birds with one stone.

I have great things to say about this league. When the opportunity came up to be a part of it, I jumped at it.

What was the conversation like when they approached you and invited you to come on board?

It wasn't a long conversation. I reached out to some guys who had played in the league before… Ben [Uzoh], he played for the Raptors.

Because of my background in the NBA, I know the NBA, how professional it is, once they put their name on something, you can expect the best of the best. This is no different.

From the accommodations, all the amenities, I can tell that this was well planned, well thought out. The location, how convenient it is, it is simple.

If you look at the history of Egyptian teams in the BAL, it's a history of success. Al Ahly SC won it, Zamalek won the first season. Al Ittihad is the third Egyptian team in the league. Does that put pressure on your team to win to avoid a bad reception back in Egypt?

I don't answer that for anybody else. I don't feel any pressure at all. It's just my personality. Obviously, I'm a human being and I have my emotions, but that's the beauty of me, because when some people feel pressure, they feel the need to panic, whatever the case may be. This is basketball. Obviously, I am a competitor. I want to win.

What can Al Ittihad and Egyptian basketball fans expect from you in terms of contribution to this team?

A versatile player, a guy who can contribute to the team in many ways: defending, rebounding, scoring the basketball, play-making, spacing the floor, being a good teammate.

You haven't been with the team long. Can you describe the quality of this Al Ittihad team?

We have experienced coaches who structure us in a certain way, but we also have experienced players. The combination is a nice marriage. We're still relatively young, so it's kind of cool to be in the mix of that flow. I don't want to say too much. I will let the game speak for us.

What do you think of your opponents here in Rabat, Stade Malien, FUS Rabat and Rivers Hoopers?

We have been focusing on ourselves. We just recently put this team together.

You are the only former NBA player at the 2025 Kalahari Conference, does that make you feel different?

I wasn't aware of that, but I'm sure there are guys who deserve it [to be there]…There's a lot of young guys who just haven't had that chance yet.

There's a lot of talent here, I'm sure we'll see some of those names on [NBA] rosters soon. And as the league grows, you will see more guys like me - with NBA experience - guys with potential to have NBA experience, which I think we have.