The NBA Global Games are a series of basketball games that take place outside the United States and Canada. The first ever overseas game featuring an NBA team actually took place in 1978 against Maccabi Tel Aviv and since then the NBA games have been played regularly across Europe and other counties such as Brazil, Mexico City and across Southeast Asia such as the Philippines. Throughout history there have been NBA preseason games in a number of countries across Europe, but London is the biggest feature for the games. If you are heading to Europe it is important that you get a health insurance card from https://www.ehic.co.uk in ensure that you are covered if you were to fall ill or injure yourself while you’re in Europe, if you’re a citizen of one of the member countries. We’re taking a look at some of the places in Europe aside from London that you may be able to experience the thrill of the NBA and other basketball matches.
- Spain
Some of the preseason NBA Global Games in 2016 were played in Spain with Euro league basketball teams Real Madrid and FC Barcelona Lassa being part of the games. There was a huge buzz of excitement about the Oklahoma City Thunder match vs. Real Madrid and it is highly likely to see the Global Games head back to Spain in the coming years because of the success of the basketball teams there – Real Madrid are nine-time Euro league Champions and 33-time Spanish League Champions, and Barcelona are 18 time Spanish League Champions and two=time Euro League Champions.
- Turkey
In 2013, we saw the Thunders face Fenerbahce Ulker in Istanbul, Turkey, meaning that we could soon see the NBA head to Turkey once again in the coming years as they branch out. While there is an idea of a permanent NBA team to be based in London, when this comes about it is highly likely that NBA will begin to spread further into other countries across Europe such as the likes of Turkey and the surrounding countries. This will create a bright future for the club, and also for the country itself. While Turkey is not well known for its basketball team, this could be a change in the future that would be welcomed.
- Russian Olympics
While the Russian Olympics doesn’t constitute as NBA exactly, you are likely to see some of the up and coming basketball stars that are likely to hit the NBA teams in the near future amongst the American basketball team. The Olympics will be coming to Russia in 2020, and there is a high anticipation for the basketball teams this year as they face one another. The NBA heading to Europe is a great way to promote the sport globally, and help to influence potential Olympians to play the sport and become a key part of the thrilling Russian Olympics.