---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's a great thing that the NBA has done…"
description: "\"It's a great thing that the NBA has done in Africa to develop the game.\" — Masai Ujiri"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/masai-ujiri-4599_africa_it-s-a-great-thing-that-the-nba-has-done_2661530.jpg"
---

#  It's a great thing that the NBA has done in Africa to…

![“It's a great thing that the NBA has done in Africa to develop the game.” quote by Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/masai-ujiri-4599_africa_it-s-a-great-thing-that-the-nba-has-done_2661530.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/masai-ujiri-4599_africa_it-s-a-great-thing-that-the-nba-has-done_2661530.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/masai-ujiri-4599_africa_it-s-a-great-thing-that-the-nba-has-done_2661530.jpg)

> “It's a great thing that the NBA has done in Africa to develop the game.”

[Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He praises the NBA’s efforts to grow basketball in Africa, highlighting development impact.

**In simple terms:** NBA’s African outreach fosters growth.

Key Takeaway

Support sports development in emerging regions.

Themes

sports development Africa global outreach community

Mood

optimistic proud

Type

social inspirational

When to use this quote

- sports programs
- education
- investment
- media coverage

Key Concepts

social impact talent development cross‑cultural exchange

Questions to Reflect On

- How can sports drive broader social change?
- What challenges exist in African basketball?

A Different Perspective

Impact may be limited without infrastructure.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [NBA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nba/)

## Related quotes

> [I always felt that I had to leave a legacy on the African continent. As I was only the third player to come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dikembe-mutombo/i-always-felt-that-i-had-to-leave-a-legacy-on-the-african-continent/)

[Dikembe Mutombo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dikembe-mutombo/)

> [The intensity and importance of each possession. That's the thing about the NBA that doesn't always translate to television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mccollum/the-intensity-and-importance-of-each-possession-that-s-the-thing/)

[C. J. McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/)

> [I always tell kids that I have four brothers. The thing that I have against them is that I'm in the NBA, but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-beal/i-always-tell-kids-that-i-have-four-brothers-the-thing-that-i-have/)

[Bradley Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-beal/)

> [Sinn Fein has productively taken the example of South Africa and, as we develop the peace process, we continue to use examples from South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/sinn-fein-has-productively-taken-the-example-of-south-africa-and-as/)

[Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/)

> [As African economies boom and businesses are created, one of the big questions this growth raises is that of third-level education: how can Africa…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-attias/as-african-economies-boom-and-businesses-are-created-one-of-the-big/)

[Richard Attias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-attias/)

> [That's the thing about the NBA; there's another game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deandre-jordan/that-s-the-thing-about-the-nba-there-s-another-game/)

[DeAndre Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deandre-jordan/)

> [At some point, somebody will get the coronavirus, I think. If somebody will get it, I think MLB will do the same thing as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yu-darvish/at-some-point-somebody-will-get-the-coronavirus-i-think-if-somebody/)

[Yu Darvish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yu-darvish/)

> [Obviously, in the NBA, there's a lot of different decisions that people make. The whole thing in the NBA is that people sometimes have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-westbrook/obviously-in-the-nba-there-s-a-lot-of-different-decisions-that-people/)

[Russell Westbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-westbrook/)

> [The thing about the NBA, any pro sport, is, guys don't know how to take care of their body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-salley/the-thing-about-the-nba-any-pro-sport-is-guys-don-t-know-how-to-take/)

[John Salley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-salley/)

> [When you play regularly, you develop from game to game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casemiro/when-you-play-regularly-you-develop-from-game-to-game/)

[Casemiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casemiro/)

> [I'd love to develop a game and make the music for it. I'd love to do something based on Captain Lights. Who knows if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/i-d-love-to-develop-a-game-and-make-the-music-for-it-i-d-love-to-do/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [The thing with NBA teams, a lot of times they just want to get you back on the floor to play, so as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bogut/the-thing-with-nba-teams-a-lot-of-times-they-just-want-to-get-you/)

[Andrew Bogut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bogut/)

> [The hardest part is finding that time to actually develop your game and get in practice. Literally going week in and week out playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-fleetwood/the-hardest-part-is-finding-that-time-to-actually-develop-your-game/)

[Tommy Fleetwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-fleetwood/)

> [You have to develop your whole game to completion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-have-to-develop-your-whole-game-to-completion/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The most difficult thing about the NBA is consistency. It's easy to have a couple of good games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lee/the-most-difficult-thing-about-the-nba-is-consistency-it-s-easy-to/)

[David Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lee/)

## More by Masai Ujiri

> [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/)

[Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/)

> [Scouting is like CIA work and investigative work. You create a lot of stuff and try a lot of stuff. Some works and some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/scouting-is-like-cia-work-and-investigative-work-you-create-a-lot-of/)

[Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/)

> [The truth is that Africa is like everywhere else. There are poor areas, there are rich areas, there is a middle class. Some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/the-truth-is-that-africa-is-like-everywhere-else-there-are-poor-areas/)

[Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/)

> [I don't know how much of an impact I can have, but you hope you can have some.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/i-don-t-know-how-much-of-an-impact-i-can-have-but-you-hope-you-can/)

[Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/)

> [Every day is different. There's always, as we call it in the NBA, a 'drama,' a team's drama, there's always something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/every-day-is-different-there-s-always-as-we-call-it-in-the-nba-a/)

[Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/)

> [Everyone mentions the fact that I am the first African GM. I think it means nothing unless you impact people in Africa. That's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/everyone-mentions-the-fact-that-i-am-the-first-african-gm-i-think-it/)

[Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/)

> [It's my responsibility to put a team on the floor that will win, and that attracts players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/it-s-my-responsibility-to-put-a-team-on-the-floor-that-will-win-and/)

[Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/)

> [The natural thing in Africa is to start playing soccer at 8 or 9. You go outside and you play like kids play basketball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/the-natural-thing-in-africa-is-to-start-playing-soccer-at-8-or-9-you/)

[Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/)

> [I represent a great continent. People ask, Is there pressure on me? I don't feel pressure at all. It's an unbelievable challenge for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/i-represent-a-great-continent-people-ask-is-there-pressure-on-me-i/)

[Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/)

> [To be honest, women just make us smarter. They make us better. I've noticed that in my workplace. I've noticed that at home. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/to-be-honest-women-just-make-us-smarter-they-make-us-better-i-ve/)

[Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/)

> [I am confident about who I am as a person, my character, and as a human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/i-am-confident-about-who-i-am-as-a-person-my-character-and-as-a-human/)

[Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/)

> [Every man, they say, 'oh my wife is my boss.' So why can't they be bosses at work?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/every-man-they-say-oh-my-wife-is-my-boss-so-why-can-t-they-be-bosses/)

[Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/)

> [God doesn't put anyone someplace permanently. I am a living testimony to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/god-doesn-t-put-anyone-someplace-permanently-i-am-a-living-testimony/)

[Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/)

> [You have to figure out that balance between younger players and veteran players, star players, and All-Star players, really a team effort. And then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/you-have-to-figure-out-that-balance-between-younger-players-and/)

[Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/)

> [As leaders, I think we have to give people in many places a chance to have success, not continue to put those people down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/as-leaders-i-think-we-have-to-give-people-in-many-places-a-chance-to/)

[Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/)

[Explore all 108 Masai Ujiri quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/)

## More Africa quotes

> [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/)

[Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/)

> [I'm in 'Madagascar 2.' I'm Testy the Lion. The franchise moves to Africa, and Bernie Mac is also in the film. I loved working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lister-jr/i-m-in-madagascar-2-i-m-testy-the-lion-the-franchise-moves-to-africa/)

[Tom Lister, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lister-jr/)

> [South Africa needs a second liberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/south-africa-needs-a-second-liberation/)

[Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/)

> [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/)

[Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/)

> [If you followed the media you'd think that everybody in Africa was starving to death, and that's not the case; so it's important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/if-you-followed-the-media-you-d-think-that-everybody-in-africa-was/)

[Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/)

> [Africa for the Africans... at home and abroad!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/africa-for-the-africans-at-home-and-abroad/)

[Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/)

> [In Africa, animals and the natural landscape allow local communities to support themselves, as there is a constant source of money from tourism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/in-africa-animals-and-the-natural-landscape-allow-local-communities/)

[David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/)

> [My mom is from Ghana, and my dad is from Detroit, so I would go back and forth to Africa a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-richardson/my-mom-is-from-ghana-and-my-dad-is-from-detroit-so-i-would-go-back/)

[Sam Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-richardson/)

> [I've never been invited to do an exhibition or do a talk in England, except once, about 10 years ago. I've given talks all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wildsmith/i-ve-never-been-invited-to-do-an-exhibition-or-do-a-talk-in-england/)

[Brian Wildsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wildsmith/)

> [I represent my country, but I also represent the continent of Africa when I play in Europe. That's why it's important to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaya-toure/i-represent-my-country-but-i-also-represent-the-continent-of-africa/)

[Yaya Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaya-toure/)

> [What we need in South Africa is for egos to be suppressed in favour of peace. We need to create a new breed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hani/what-we-need-in-south-africa-is-for-egos-to-be-suppressed-in-favour/)

[Chris Hani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hani/)

> [I was learning to track rhinoceroses in Africa and tracked right up on an animal that really I thought was going to kill me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/i-was-learning-to-track-rhinoceroses-in-africa-and-tracked-right-up/)

[Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/)

> [I am interested in bringing Africa to the foot of the Cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/i-am-interested-in-bringing-africa-to-the-foot-of-the-cross/)

[Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/)

> [My mother is a huge fan of my work. I told her about 'Coraline' long before the film was made, and she got the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-selick/my-mother-is-a-huge-fan-of-my-work-i-told-her-about-coraline-long/)

[Henry Selick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-selick/)

[Browse all 1,665 Africa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It's a great thing that the NBA has done in Africa to develop the game.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Masai Ujiri"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/it-s-a-great-thing-that-the-nba-has-done-in-africa-to-develop-the-game/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Africa"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/it-s-a-great-thing-that-the-nba-has-done-in-africa-to-develop-the-game/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/masai-ujiri-4599_africa_it-s-a-great-thing-that-the-nba-has-done_2661530.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/masai-ujiri-4599_africa_it-s-a-great-thing-that-the-nba-has-done_2661530.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e28/masai-ujiri-4599_africa_it-s-a-great-thing-that-the-nba-has-done_2661530.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It's a great thing that the NBA has done in Africa to develop the game.” — Masai Ujiri",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Masai Ujiri",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It's a great thing that the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/it-s-a-great-thing-that-the-nba-has-done-in-africa-to-develop-the-game/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/it-s-a-great-thing-that-the-nba-has-done-in-africa-to-develop-the-game/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
