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Hawks John Collins to Play in 2018 NBA Africa Game on August 4

By Chris Guest

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 15: John Collins #20 of the Atlanta Hawks poses for a portrait as part of the 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend on February 15, 2018 at the Mariott in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Michael J. LeBrecht II/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 15: John Collins #20 of the Atlanta Hawks poses for a portrait as part of the 2018 NBA All-Star Weekend on February 15, 2018 at the Mariott in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Michael J. LeBrecht II/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The NBA announced the full roster and coaching staff for the 2018 NBA Africa Game on August 4 in Pretoria, South Africa.

The Atlanta Hawks will have a player present in the proceedings as well. Second-year player John Collins, who was named to the All-Rookie Second Team last season, will participate in the game as a member of Team World.

The game is similar in structure to the Rising Stars Game (in which two Hawks participated last season – Collins and Taurean Prince) by having two teams based on geography (Team USA vs. Team World) come together to form a superteam and play for country or region.

In the NBA Africa Game, the teams will be Team Africa, featuring players born in Africa or with direct African ancestry versus Team World, featuring players from around the world (though many of Team World’s players are from the U.S.)

Collins acquitted himself well during the Rising Stars game, finishing lobs and dunking with menace (as he is wont to do) as the only true big man on Team USA’s roster. His highlights speak for themselves:

The full rosters were made available by a release from the NBA:

Team Africa will feature the following players: Luol Deng (Los Angeles Lakers; South Sudan) and Ian Mahinmi (Washington Wizards; France; parent from Benin) join Team Africa, which already includes Al-Farouq Aminu (Portland Trail Blazers; U.S.; parents from Nigeria), Bismack Biyombo (Charlotte Hornets; Democratic Republic of the Congo)*, Cheick Diallo (New Orleans Pelicans; Mali), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2011)*, Evan Fournier (Orlando Magic; France; parent from Algeria), Serge Ibaka (Toronto Raptors; Republic of the Congo), Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (Oklahoma City Thunder; France; parent from Democratic Republic of the Congo), and Pascal Siakam (Raptors; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2012).  Team Africa will be coached by Miami Heat assistant coach Juwan Howard.

Team World will feature the following players: John Collins (Atlanta Hawks; U.S.), JaVale McGee (Lakers; U.S.), Dennis Smith Jr. (Dallas Mavericks; U.S.) and Marvin Williams (Hornets; U.S.) join Team World, which already includes Harrison Barnes (Mavericks; U.S.), Danilo Gallinari (LA Clippers; Italy; BWB Europe 2003), Rudy Gay (San Antonio Spurs; U.S.)*, Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks; U.S.)*, and Hassan Whiteside (Heat; U.S.).  Team World will be coached by Spurs assistant coach Ettore Messina (Italy).

Next. Hawks Projected Starting Lineup for 2018-19. dark

The game will take place on Saturday, Aug. 4 at 5:00 pm CAT at Sun Arena at Time Square in Pretoria, South Africa and will air live in sub-Saharan Africa on Kwesé Free Sports, Kwesé Sports 1, the Kwesé TV app, as well as Kwesé’s partner pay-TV and free-to-air channels

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