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NBA teams will head to a pair of new countries in the 2013-14 preseason, with the Lakers and Warriors scheduled to play a set of games in China.
The two China matchups send Kobe Bryant to the country where he won Olympic gold in 2008. Bryant is wildly popular in China: if you don't believe me, watch this video and check out a charity game from this past offseason where he scored 68 points. The NBA is always excited about the possibility of extending its reach into China and Kobe is one of the biggest assets the sport has in the burgeoning basketball market. The Warriors don't boast many ties to China, but the Bay Area has one of the largest Asian-American populations in the United States. The two teams will play once in Beijing and once in Shanghai.
Also in Asia will be the Houston Rockets and Indiana Pacers, with the two teams scheduled to play in Taiwan -- where Rockets guard Jeremy Lin claims his heritage. They'll also play the first game between two NBA teams in the Philippines, where the league has a huge following, and the sport has its own popular domestic league.
The Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards will head to Rio de Janeiro for the first ever NBA game played in Brazil. The Wizards have Brazilian native Nene on the roster, as well as Leandro Barbosa, although the point guard nicknamed the Brazilian Blur might not be on the roster come next season.
As always, the league has a pair of teams headed to Europe in the Oklahoma City Thunder and Philadelphia 76ers, but they'll be headed to a pair of new destinations: Bilbao, where the Sixers will play the local team, and Manchester, where the teams will play each other. Oklahoma City will also play against Fenerbahce Ulker in Istanbul.
Here's the full overseas schedule:
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oct. 15 |
Beijing, China |
MasterCard Center |
|
|
Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers |
Oct. 18 |
Shanghai, China |
Mercedes-Benz Arena |
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