Miami Heat forward Chris Silva was given the perfect Christmas surprise after his franchise, along with the NBA, flew his mother to Florida to watch him play in the league for the first time.
The Gabonese star hadn't seen his mother in three years but the league's NBA Africa initiative stepped in to surprise the 23-year-old. He first arrived in the country in 2012 as a 16-year-old pursuing his dream of playing in the NBA. Prior to taking four flights to reach New York, he hadn't even stepped on an airplane.
Moreover, he had very little English. However, his first words upon being picked up at the airport by one of his new high school coaches were: "Coach, I go NBA."
Naturally when he spotted his mother walking out from beneath the bleachers at AmericanAirlines Arena, he was overcome by the surprise.
Silva joined Miami Heat last summer before the current season. He has since gone on record 96 points, 89 rebounds and 15 assists, helping his team to third place in the Eastern Conference.
