Nairobi City Thunder's 3 unwanted records part of BAL Season 5 historical figures

Kenyan side Nairobi City Thunder were on the wrong side of Basketball Africa League (BAL) history following their maiden appearance late last month.

Bradley Ibs’ side, who became the first Kenyan team to make the continental showpiece, were eliminated in the Nile Conference after winning once and losing five times.

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In the latest statistics released by BAL following the conclusion of the conferences and the start of the playoffs finals in Pretoria, Thunder appear thrice, and not for the right reasons.

In Day Two of the conference matches in Kigali, Thunder allowed 115 points from fellow debutants Al Ahli Tripoli, a tally that stands as a BAL record total from a team in the tournament since its inception.

Amid their historic win - against MBB on Saturday 24 May - Thunder ended up on allowing a whooping 39 points from guard Teafale Lenard Jr. , which was a BAL season-high.

Thunder again were on the wrong side of history in their painful 3-point defeat to APR on the final day of the tournament in Rwanda as center Aliou Diarra set a BAL record for most blocked shots in a single game - eight.

Nairobi City Thunder suffer painful defeat to bow out of BAL

The Kenyan side will however have taken major lessons from their campaign, having been one of a record six new teams - and two new countries- competing in the 2025 BAL season.

Other interesting stats from this year’s BAL season include:

250,000,000 – Since 2021, the BAL contributed more than $250 million to Africa’s GDP.

2,739,498 – BAL games generated a record 2,739,498 million views on the league’s YouTube channel this season (+69% year-over-year).

168,000 – The May 22 game between APR and Made by Basketball (MBB; South Africa) was the most-watched game ever on the BAL’s YouTube channel, with 168,000 unique viewers.

111,008 – The BAL set an attendance record with 111,008 fans attending the three conference group phases, including three sold-out opening days.

37,000 – Nearly 37,000 jobs were linked to the BAL playing games across the continent over the league’s first four seasons.

2,347 – This season, the BAL engaged 2,347 youth and community members through social impact programming.

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600 – More than 600 media members from 30 countries across Africa, Europe, and the U.S. were credentialed to cover the three conference group phases.

214 – The 2025 BAL season reached fans in 214 countries and territories in 17 languages.

156 – The 12 BAL teams collectively featured 156 players from a record 28 countries across Africa, Europe, Oceania and the U.S. during group phase play.

17 – Rivers Hoopers center Peter Olisemeka grabbed a BAL season-high 17 rebounds in a 94-77 loss to Al Ittihad on April 12.

13 – Petro de Luanda guard Childe Dundao set a BAL record for most assists in a game with 13 in a 103-74 win over Kriol Star on April 26.

12 – As part of the fourth edition of the BAL Elevate program, one NBA Academy Africa prospect joined each of the 12 BAL teams for the season. For Thunder, the player was Yohane Kabongo.

8 – Al Ahli Tripoli guard Jean-Jacques Boissy made a BAL season-high eight three-pointers in an 87-77 win vs. MBB on May 17.

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2 – Kriol Star was the only BAL team to win two overtime games in the same season, vs. ASC Ville de Dakar on May 1 (95-92) and vs. Petro de Luanda on May 4 (71-69).

2 – 2022 BAL champion US Monastir and defending champion Petro de Luanda are the only two teams to compete in all five BAL seasons.

1 – This season marked the first time BAL games were held in Morocco, and the first time South Africa is hosting the Playoffs and Finals.