NBA announces comprehensive Global Games schedule for 2013-14 preseason
NEW YORK – The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced today that eight NBA teams will take part in a comprehensive Global Games schedule that will include a total of eight games in six countries this October. The games will include the first-ever NBA preseason games to be held in Brazil and the Philippines, and in the cities of Bilbao, Spain and Manchester, England.
In addition to oncourt action, the NBA Global Games will feature a variety of events off the court, including NBA Cares community outreach activities and interactive fan events in each city. They will also be supported by a variety of marketing and promotional partners, and will be available to fans on television and through digital media.
“Providing fans with an authentic NBA experience is an important part of our efforts to grow the game globally,” said NBA Commissioner David Stern. “This fall, nearly a third of our teams will embark on a global tour that will celebrate the game of basketball, give our international fans a chance to connect with NBA teams and players, and leave a lasting impact in each of the communities we visit.”
2013-14 NBA Global Games Schedule:
| GAMES | DATE | LOCATION | ARENA |
| Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul | Oct. 5 | Istanbul, Turkey | Ulker Sports Arena |
| Philadelphia 76ers vs. Uxue Bilbao Basket | Oct. 6 | Bilbao, Spain | Bizkaia Arena at the BEC |
| Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Philadelphia 76ers | Oct. 8 | Manchester, England | Manchester Arena |
| Houston Rockets vs. Indiana Pacers | Oct. 10 | Manila, Philippines | Mall of Asia Arena |
| Houston Rockets vs. Indiana Pacers | Oct. 13 | Taipei, Taiwan | Taipei Arena |
| Chicago Bulls vs. Washington Wizards | Oct. 12 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | HSBC Arena |
| Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers | Oct. 15 | Beijing, China | MasterCard Center |
| Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers | Oct. 18 | Shanghai, China | Mercedes-Benz Arena |
The NBA global games schedule tips off with three games in Europe in collaboration with long-time partner Euroleague Basketball that will feature the Oklahoma City Thunder and Philadelphia 76ers. Oklahoma City will open the schedule in Istanbul, Turkey on Oct. 5 with a game against five-time Turkish champion Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul at the Ulker Sports Arena. Philadelphia will be the first NBA team to play in Bilbao when they take on Uxue Bilbao Basket on Oct. 6 at the Bizkaia Arena at the BEC. The Thunder and 76ers complete their European schedule with a game against each other on Oct. 8 in Manchester at the Manchester Arena. For the second year in a row the NBA’s series of games in Europe will be presented by BBVA, the league’s official bank partner.
The Indiana Pacers and Houston Rockets will begin their preseason slate with a game in Manila, Philippines on Oct. 10 at the Mall of Asia Arena. The game will mark the first time an NBA team has traveled to the Philippines since the then-Washington Bullets played against a Philippine Basketball Association All-Star team in 1979. The Pacers and Rockets will then travel to Taipei for a game on Oct. 13 at the Taipei Arena, marking the second NBA game played in Taiwan.
The Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards face each other on Oct. 12 in the first-ever NBA game in Brazil at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. The game will be a homecoming for the Wizard’s Brazilian native Nenê.
The NBA global games will conclude with two games in China between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. The teams will play on Oct. 15 at the MasterCard Center in Beijing, then travel to Shanghai for a game at the Mercedes-Benz Arena on Oct. 18.
To date, the NBA has staged 138 preseason and regular-season games in 19 countries and territories across Europe, the Americas and Asia since 1978.