Anyone who thinks David Stern isn’t good for the game of basketball on an international scale hasn’t been paying too much attention. The man is a promotion machine for the game on the international stage…
David Stern is promising Brazilian fans they will soon have the chance to watch NBA players in action in their own country.
The NBA commissioner said during a news conference Wednesday that preseason games will be held in Brazil “likely prior to the 2014 World Cup”, when Brazil will organize the showcase football tournament.
“My backup position is prior to the Olympics,” Stern said of the 2016 Rio Games. “We are well aware of the World Cup and Olympic expectations. And we expect to be following up on that opportunity relatively shortly.”
Stern was speaking ahead of a preseason game between the New York Knicks and the Minnesota Timberwolves in Paris. He also said the NBA would soon open an office in Brazil.
The NBA has been playing exhibition games in London and Paris for several years and has expanded its European presence with the first regular-season games scheduled for March in London. There will also be exhibitions in China and Mexico in October.
The NBA has taken notice of the travel alert issued last week by the U.S. government warning of potential terror threats in Europe, Stern said.
“We have taken all the steps that we think are necessary to ensure the safety of the traveling parties that we have here in Europe,” Stern said. “But we didn’t go into lockdown mode. In other words, we let them enjoy the cities under our watchful eyes.”
Read more details via AP on NBA.com
