NBA REGULAR SEASON GAMES IN LONDON CONFIRMED

The NBA will hold its first ever regular season games at O2 Arena in London on March 4 and 5, 2011. Commissioner David Stern confirmed the London schedule, according to BritBall. The protagonists in the Three Lions showdown are the New Jersey Nets and the Toronto Raptors. Japan is the only country thus far to host a regular NBA game in the past.

“We'll need to assess how we do in March. It would not surprise me if this becomes an annual event. But I don't want to make a commitment on it.

“It’s always about the games themselves and the activities around the games. Last year with our friendly in October, we did community service, we did clinics, we did court dedications. You can expect there will be a dramatic build-up towards March, that we begin to demonstrate to people that basketball – in particular NBA basketball but we hope all of basketball – has drawing power, especially for kids. 

“It’s a very inclusive sport. When you have rosters that demonstrate the impact of globalisation in the NBA, that together with the focus that LOCOG will be putting basketball, it is going to be a very catalytic series of events that will keep basketball in the public eye.”