Stern Set to Pimp NBA in Europe Again

- The Season's Over -

Stern Set to Pimp NBA in Europe Again

March 1, 2007

It was announced during All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas two weeks ago, but with Pacman Jones stealing the show this news seems to have been lost in the shuffle. Though members of the Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers gently expressed some displeasure with their training camp routine being disrupted by their European stint this season, we’re thrilled that the NBA Europe Live tour will resume for the 2007-08 season when the Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies, and Toronto Raptors head to Europe for training camp and exhibition matches against European teams.

The 2007 NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS™ will mark a series of firsts in the NBA’s 19-year history of conducting games in Europe. The Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves will play in the first basketball game in the O2, London’s new state of the art NBA style arena. In addition, the NBA will conduct its first game played in Turkey. The event will also feature the first time two NBA teams have competed against one another in Rome.

After the 2007 NBA Europe Live, NBA teams will have played 41 games in 15 cities throughout Europe over the past two decades. The inaugural NBA Europe Live drew more than 36 million viewers, 115,000 spectators, and 18 marketing partners in October 2006.

Garbajosa and Calderon

Though games in Turkey seem like somewhat of a security risk, for once we’re supporters of a Stern-led initiative, and wish we could be on hand for these camps in Istanbul, Malaga, Rome, and Treviso. The exhibition matches against European teams should be good, and it will be especially exciting for the two Raptors players who are native Spainards, forward Jorge Garbajosa and guard Jose Calderon, who will suit up in Madrid for the first time wearing a Raptors uniform. For a full training camp and exhibition game schedule, please click here.

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