The NBA will play "somewhat of a unique doubleheader" tonight with games in London and Mexico City, the "first time it will stage multiple international games in different countries on the same day in the regular season," according to Brian Mahoney of the AP. NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum said, "We thought having two regular-season global games on the same day for the first time was another great way to celebrate the popularity of our game with fans around the world." The Nuggets-Pacers game at London's O2 Arena is the city's seventh regular-season game since '11, when the NBA wanted to "increase its popularity in Britain" ahead of the '12 London Games. Mahoney noted "all have been sold out." Mexico was a "preseason-only stop when the NBA first visited there 25 years ago." Now it "not only gets official games but this year two of them," as the Suns will host the Mavericks tonight and the Spurs on Saturday at Mexico City Arena (AP, 1/10). ESPN.com's Eric Gomez wrote the NBA's "commitment to growing the game in Mexico and bringing its product to the country has never been stronger." By bringing "big events to the city and country, the NBA has blazed a trail in Mexico, allowing it to follow through on a decade-long global plan to grow the league and expand on burgeoning markets." The league has "secured multiple partnerships with big companies to expand its footprint in Mexico." ESPN "broadcasts five weekly games" in the country, while Televisa "provides more than a dozen events on over-the-air television, including All-Star Weekend" (ESPN.com, 1/11).
STAYING CONNECTED: In Dallas, Eddie Sefko wrote if the NBA is "not taking a franchise to Mexico, then the occasional preseason or regular-season game, along with the growing internet streaming industry that pipes all NBA games into Mexican cyberspace, will remain the primary connection between the country and the league." NBA Latin America VP & Managing Dir Arnon de Mello said, "We have ambitious plans for Latin America, including Mexico over the next few years. We will work with partners and organizations to create a variety of grass-roots programs to further grow the game in schools and communities, and to bring more of the NBA experience to our fans here." Mavericks G J.J. Barea, a "popular figure in Mexico as a Spanish-speaking player," said that going to Mexico City is "terrific for the teams involved and the league as a whole." Barea: "It's great for everybody in the NBA, all the players and all the Latinos that don't get to see us live. To bring two teams to their town is amazing. I'm glad we're doing it. It's different, it's a different atmosphere" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/11).
LOCAL HEROES: In Phoenix, Doug Haller noted Mexico has "hosted more NBA preseason and regular-season games (22 since 1992) than any country outside the U.S. or Canada, but this marks the first time an organization will play two regular-season contests there." The Suns, Lakers, Knicks, Mavericks and Spurs have remained local favorites in Mexico, and that is something the Suns "plan to build upon during their stay, broadening their 'Los Suns' brand" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/11). Also in Phoenix, Dan Bickley in a front-page piece writes this time the NBA has "made its biggest investment yet" in Mexico. All three teams are from Texas and Arizona, "states that share a border with Mexico." The Suns also "took part in an NBA Cares event on Tuesday, hosting a group of 60 kids, including 40 from the Special Olympics in Mexico City." de Mello said basketball is "already the second-most watched sport in Mexico," and it is "growing tremendously." He added there are "more basketball courts in this country than any other sport.” Former NBAer Horacio Llamas, who is Mexican, said, "The NBA has been bringing games to Mexico for 25 years. But over the last four years, we’ve been doing a lot more. We’ve been doing a lot of clinics, improving the courts, helping the kids find a way to play basketball. It’s all happening” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/12). de Mello said that the Suns-Spurs game in Mexico City is "nearing a sellout." In San Antonio, Jeff McDonald noted the league "expects a crowd" approaching the Mexico City Arena capacity of 22,300 (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 1/11).
IT'S NO FISH & CHIPS: ESPN.com's Ian Chadbrand noted in London there has been "precious little hype surrounding" tonight's game. Chadbrand: "Actually, there usually never is for the NBA's annual visit. No column inches in newspapers, no publicity on the main TV channels and absolutely no fanfare outside the British basketball community." Every year, the NBA in London is a "lovely one-night stand that exists in its own world and is then just a fond memory for 12 months" (ESPN.com, 1/11).
