Timberwolves' Gorgui Dieng Playing In First NBA Africa Game

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minnesota Timberwolves center Gorgui Dieng will be one of several players on hand when the NBA plays its first game in Africa on Aug. 1.

The game will be played at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg, South Africa, and will feature a Team Africa vs. Team World. Team Africa will be comprised of players born in Africa and second-generation African players.

Dieng, drafted by the Timberwolves in 2013, is originally from Senegal and was on a national championship team at Louisville in his final year of college basketball. In his second season with the Timberwolves, he averaged 9.7 points and 8.3 rebounds in about 30 minutes per game.

The NBA has had more than 35 players from Africa featured on teams since Hakeem Olajuwon was drafted back in 1984.