NBA Africa CEO Victor Williams set to step down

Victor Williams is set to step down as CEO of NBA Africa at the end of December, this was announced by NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum.

Tatum said that Williams, who has overseen the NBA’s operations in Africa since 2020, is leaving the position to pursue other business interests.

“We are thankful for Victor’s many contributions to the NBA over the past three years,” said Tatum, who will now lead the search for a new NBA Africa CEO.

“Under Victor’s inspiring and dedicated leadership, the league’s business and basketball development efforts across the continent experienced significant growth, highlighted by the launch of historic initiatives like the Basketball Africa League and our NBA Africa entity. Through Victor’s efforts, we have established a solid foundation for scaling our business in Africa going forward.”

The organization said that, during his tenure, Williams grew the NBA’s business and presence across the continent by launching NBA Africa as a standalone entity with the support of strategic investors and partners.

He is also credited with helping to establish the Basketball Africa League (BAL) as a world-class professional league that is about to embark on its fourth season, and expanding the league’s footprint across Africa by opening offices in Egypt, Nigeria and Senegal as well as the league’s first-ever NBA Stores on the continent in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town in South Africa.

“It has been a privilege to work with incredible colleagues in Johannesburg, Dakar, Lagos, Cairo and around the world to take the NBA and basketball to new heights in Africa,” said Williams.

“I want to thank Adam Silver, Mark, the NBA Africa Board and our investors for their support during this exciting journey. I wish my colleagues all the best going forward and will continue to be a fan and advocate of NBA Africa and its bright future in transforming the lives of youth across the continent.”

Under Williams’s leadership, NBA Africa expanded its media distribution business through broadcast partnerships with ESPN Africa and Canal+ that provide the most comprehensive NBA coverage ever on the continent.

He further scaled the league’s Direct to Consumer streaming business, and grew its grassroots and elite youth basketball development programming that reaches millions of youth annually through programs like the Jr. NBA, Basketball Without Borders Africa and NBA Academy Africa.