ESPN to premiere "Origin: The Story of the Basketball Africa League" on February 11

The four-part documentary chronicles the creation, launch, and inaugural season of the NBA's Basketball Africa League, featuring interviews with President Barack Obama, J. Cole, Stephen Curry, Masai Ujiri, and more

ESPN today announced that Origin: The Story of the Basketball Africa League will premiere on February 11 exclusively on the ESPN app.

Origin documents the creation and launch of the NBA's first collaboration to operate a league outside North America, a pan-African professional basketball league in partnership with FIBA featuring 12 top club teams from across Africa's 54 countries competing in a caravan format. The series captures the realization of a vision decades in the making, spearheaded by Amadou Gallo Fall and Masai Ujiri, who transformed their long-held dream of elite African basketball into reality, and goes behind the scenes throughout BAL's first season as it follows the stories of key players, coaches, and teams as they compete to be the historic first BAL champions.

Executive produced, written and co-directed by Richard Brown (True Detective, Catch-22, Outlaw King), with executive producers including Masai Ujiri, Akin Omotoso (Rise) and Fisher Stevens (Beckham) as well as co-director Tebogo Malope, the four-part documentary series follows the BAL's inaugural season and playoffs while exploring the league's potential to transform both large-scale sporting and socio-economic opportunities across the continent. The series is produced by Richard Brown's Passenger and Fremantle, who are handling global sales on the series to bring the inspiring story of basketball and The BAL to audiences around the world.

The BAL showcases the diversity of Africa, bringing together teams from vastly different nations including Mozambique, Angola, Senegal, Rwanda, Egypt, and Morocco. Origin captures how basketball serves as a unifying force across the continent's rich tapestry of cultures, languages, and traditions, creating connections between communities that span from North Africa's Mediterranean shores to sub-Saharan nations.

The series also examines how the BAL serves as a unique bridge between Africa and North America, creating bidirectional pathways for opportunity. Through the stories of players, coaches, and league architects, Origin reveals how basketball is fostering new connections that benefit both continents.

The series features exclusive interviews and participation with key figures including:

· President Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States and a strategic partner of NBA Africa

· Masai Ujiri, Giants of Africa co-founder, former Toronto Raptors President, and series executive producer

· Amadou Gallo Fall, BAL President and longtime advocate for African basketball development

· Joakim Noah, two-time NBA All-Star and NBA Defensive Player Of The Year

· J. Cole, Grammy-winning artist and player for The Rwanda Patriots in the BAL's inaugural season

· Dikembe Mutombo, NBA legend and pioneer of African basketball development

· Stephen Curry, four-time NBA champion

· Pascal Siakam, NBA champion from Cameroon

· Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner

Episode Synopses

· Episode 1: The Long Road to the BAL

The Basketball Africa League (BAL) begins its historic first season as the stakes are set for game one.

· Episode 2: Right Here, Right Now

Group stages begin as players reflect on the BAL's potential impact on Africa's global perception.

· Episode 3: More than a Game

Africa's complex history and promising future is explored as the 8-team playoff begins for the BAL.

· Episode 4: The Stage is Set

Africa's complex history and promising future is explored as the 8-team playoff begins for the BAL.

-30-

All of ESPN. All in One Place.

ESPN offers its full suite of networks and services directly to fans on the ESPN App, providing more choice, flexibility and access to all of ESPN, including more than 47,000 live events per year, on-demand replays, industry-leading studio shows and original programming, and more. The ESPN App gives fans a unique viewing experience that includes multiview and synchronized two-screen viewing options, swipe-able vertical video and a personalized SportsCenter For You, as well as integrated game stats, ESPN Fantasy sports, betting odds and information from DraftKings, sports merchandise, and more. These features are available to all fans who watch on the ESPN App on mobile and connected TV devices, whether they subscribe directly or through a pay TV package. Bundling options available for fans include a limited time offer for the ESPN DTC Unlimited plan with Disney+ and Hulu for $29.99/month for the first 12 months. For more visit stream.espn.com.