NBA Goes Global
The NBA announced two regular season games are scheduled to be played in Mexico City and London for the 2014-2015 season. The first stop overseas will be a November 12th showdown between the Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves in Mexico City. The Milwaukee Bucks will follow up with a January 15th matchup in London against the New York Knicks. Commissioner Adam Silver states:
“These regular season games will bring the excitement and incredible competition of our league to more fans in Europe and Latin America”. With the increasing popularity of the NBA in the foreign market, this strategy would give international fans an opportunity to see their favorite stars in action.”
An increase of international players in the NBA seems to be a growing trend over the years. Early influencers such as Drazen Petrovic, Arvydas Sabonis, and Vlade Divac have paved the way for stars such as Serge Ibaka, Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, and Tony Parker to make the transition into the NBA. The league reported a record number of 92 international players on NBA rosters, ranging from 39 different nations. The increase of international players now make up more than 20 percent of the NBA.
-Kadeem Richards (@K_Riich)
