The NBA’s 80th season tipped off with pure madness, four 50-point performances in opening week, the most in league history. Basketball fans across ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, and NBA League Pass witnessed hoop greatness in real time.
NBA Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lit up the court with 55 points for the Oklahoma City Thunder in a fiery Finals rematch against the Indiana Pacers. Austin Reaves followed with a monster 51-point, 11-rebound game against the Sacramento Kings. Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen dropped 51 and 14 on the Phoenix Suns, while Aaron Gordon went off for 50 points in a tight loss to the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Centre.
But it’s not just the stats that got people talking; it’s the culture. To celebrate the new season, NBA Africa pulled up with a pop-up activation as part of the Castle Lite Experience during Travis Scott’s Maximus Circus Tour at FNB Stadium. Then, this past weekend, the NBA Fan Box landed at Prison Break Market in Fourways, Johannesburg, turning the spot into a full-blown basketball x lifestyle takeover.
Hosted by Jerome “Slim” Du Plooy, the Fan Box fused music, fashion, and entertainment in true culture style, complete with a mocha replica of Travis Scott’s G-Wagon, NBA2K gaming stations, exclusive NBA merch, and hoop games that had fans showing off their handles. The vibe brought together young NBA lovers, families, and creatives, with some lucky fans walking away dripped out in official NBA gear.
Spotted in the mix were Proteas star Andile Phehlukwayo, soccer legends Morgan Gould and Lehlohonolo Majoro, creators Ofentse and Nelisiwe Mwase, and reality TV star Mrs Mome.
The activation proved once again that being a fan isn’t just about the game, it’s about the culture around it, the community it builds, and the energy it brings from start to finish.