NBA promises regular-season London games within two years 14/04/2010 |
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The National Basketball Association (NBA) will play regular-season games in London before the 2012 Olympics, its commissioner David Stern has said.
He made the pledge as the league announced the latest round of NBA Europe Live friendly games which will see reigning champions the LA Lakers take on the Minnesota Timberwolves at London’s O2 on October 4.
It will be the fifth straight year the NBA has played pre-season games in Europe, with London hosting a game for the fourth year in a row.
"In addition to the friendlies we’ll be playing in 2010, it is my intention that prior to the Olympics, we will play regular-season games in London,” said Stern. “That’s my statement, and I’m fully expecting to deliver on it.”
"In the UK, the participation rates have been very high in terms of getting people playing – second only to football.
"The excitement will begin to build as we get towards the Olympics and our fans in Great Britain will see the potential in terms of what a great, easily played, diverse and welcoming sport basketball is.
"For our UK efforts, this is a very important continuing step, to bring our best known team, the Lakers, to London and the UK. We think this is progressing exactly as we expected and our expectation is for continuing growth.”
Last season, British star Luol Deng's Chicago Bulls played the Utah Jazz at the O2.
Stern added: "It’s hard to follow Luol, but bringing the world’s best-known basketball team to the O2 is a good idea. It’s a great follow-up step.”
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