NBA To Open Office In Russia Pending Prokhorov's Nets Purchase

The NBA "will open an office in Russia after the league approves" prospective Nets Owner Mikhail Prokhorov's purchase of the team, "which is expected this spring," according to John Lombardo of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. The league "has been interviewing executives for a managing director position for the Russian office, which will most likely be in Moscow as the NBA continues its push to grow internationally." Lombardo notes the NBA is "not planning a Russian spin-off similar to its NBA China entity that includes outside investors" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/15 issue).

NEXT HORIZON: In Ft. Worth, Gary West reported NBA Commissioner David Stern Saturday officially announced that the league "will open an office this spring in Johannesburg, South Africa," where NBA VP/Development for Africa Amadou Gallo Fall "and a small staff will work to promote the game, encourage development and expand partnerships." Before joining the NBA, Fall served as Mavericks Dir of Player Personnel & VP/Int'l Affairs. He also has "worked in Africa with the NBA's Basketball Without Borders" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 2/14).