NBA to host games in London and Manchester
London's O2 Arena has been selected to host a regular-season game between the Orlando Magic and the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, 18 January 2026.
It will be the first NBA game in the UK since the Washington Wizards' win over the New York Knicks in January 2019, with London previously having hosted yearly matches between 2011 and 2019.
Manchester will host a regular-season game for the first time in 2027 at the Co-Op Arena, with the teams involved to be revealed before the start of that season.
The city previously held a pre-season match between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Philadelphia 76ers in October 2013 at the city's other major indoor entertainment venue, which is now called the AO Arena.
The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, said: "London is now the undisputed sporting capital of the world and the NBA coming to The O2 in January 2026 will further cement our global status."
Councillor Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, added: "Manchester once again has shown what a magnificent draw it is for major events, and we are thrilled to welcome the NBA back to our city."
The NBA will hold two games in Europe in each of 2026, 2027 and 2028.
Berlin will host the other game in 2026 with Paris doing so in 2027, while in 2028 they will both host a match.
The teams involved in the 2027 and 2028 matches will be named before the start of those seasons.
The 2025-26 season gets under way on Tuesday, 21 October.
NBA's matches in Europe in 2026, 2027 and 2028
2026
Thursday, 15 January: Orlando Magic v Memphis Grizzlies - Uber Arena, Berlin
Sunday, 18 January: Memphis Grizzlies v Orlando Magic - O2 Arena, London
2027
One match at Accor Arena, Paris
One match at Co-op Live, Manchester
2028
One match at Uber Arena, Berlin
One match at Accor Arena, Paris
NBA announcement comes with four Britons in league
Mayor of London Khan met with NBA deputy commissioner and chief operating officer Mark Tatum in September 2024 to discuss the return of matches to London and has remained in regular contact.
BBC Sport understands Khan also recently met with NBA commissioner Adam Silver to discuss the league's return to London and the growth of basketball in the city.
The news comes in a summer that has also seen Nottingham-born Amari Williams, 23, picked up in the second round of the NBA Draft by 2023-24 champions the Boston Celtics.
When Williams makes his official debut for the Celtics later this year, it will make him the fourth active Briton in the NBA.
OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks is Britain's star name in the league, while Tosan Evbuomwan plays for the Brooklyn Nets.
Jeremy Sochan (San Antonio Spurs) completes the list of British NBA players, although internationally he represents Poland.
Belfast-born CJ Fulton also featured for the Minnesota Timberwolves during the summer league, putting him in a position to potentially be signed by an NBA side later this year.
In March 2025, NBA commissioner Silver announced that in collabaration with FIBA, the NBA is exploring the creation of a professional men's league across Europe.
At present, a proposed semi-open league of up to 16 teams that would include permanent clubs in European cities such as London, Manchester, Berlin and Paris is being discussed.
In terms of participation, basketball is currently the second most-popular team sport in the United Kingdom with one-and-a-half million participants on a weekly participants.
It is thought that there are around eight million UK-based basketball fans and it is currently the most popular sports league in the UK among Gen Z audiences.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Benjamin Sesko makes crucial transfer decision to impact Liverpool's Alexander Isak chase
RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko has snubbed Manchester United and is keen to join Newcastle United. That's according to DELO, who claims Sesko has analyzed both Premier League proposals and favors a move to Newcastle this summer. The news comes just hours after Liverpool saw a $146 million offer for Alexander Isak rejected by Newcastle. Newcastle has clarified that Isak is not for sale, but would only consider allowing a deal if its $197 million valuation was met. After losing out on Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool, Newcastle has also stated that a replacement for Isak would need to be finalized before allowing him to leave. READ MORE: Luis Diaz dealt early Bayern Munich setback after Tottenham transfer agreement READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Alexander Isak bid, Adidas kit launch, Rodrygo talks Sesko, 22, is seen as one of the brightest young talents in world soccer and has been heavily monitored by Europe's top clubs. Newcastle and United are considered the frontrunners to sign him this summer, but Sesko prefers a move to the League Cup champions. The Slovenian forward joined Leipzig from Salzburg in 2022 for a fee of $28 million. Leipzig is understood to require a fee of $87 million to sanction a transfer this summer, with add-ons and a sell-on clause also integral to a potential sale. Earlier this window, Newcastle attempted to sign Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt and planned to play him alongside Isak. However, Liverpool hijacked the move and then tried to prize Isak away from Newcastle. After weeks of speculation, Liverpool submitted an official bid for Isak worth $146 million on Friday. Newcastle instantly rejected the offer, and Liverpool opted to withdraw its interest. A second bid was thought to be pointless due to Newcastle's firm stance, which hasn't changed since Liverpool's interest was first reported. However, Newcastle's stance could change if a replacement striker is signed, and Sesko is keen on the move. It's been a very active summer for Liverpool, which has signed Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, and Armin Pecsi. Approximately $325 million has been spent by Liverpool this summer, meaning that departures have also been crucial to balance the books. Nat Phillips, Caoimhin Kelleher, Jarell Quansah, and Luis Diaz all left the club this summer, and Liverpool received a collective $141 million. Liverpool also secured $12 million from Real Madrid for the early release of Trent Alexander-Arnold. Another high-profile player must be sold to come close to Newcastle's demands and fund a potential Isak transfer. Darwin Nunez has been heavily linked with an exit this summer, and negotiations with Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal are ongoing. Liverpool is looking to secure a fee in the region of $75 million for Nunez, $10 million less than they paid Benfica for his services in 2022. Nunez was previously in talks with Napoli, but the Serie A champions withdrew interest. Tyler Morton, Harvey Elliott, and Andrew Robertson have also been linked with moves away from Liverpool this summer. At this stage, a second bid for Isak is off the table, but if Sesko joins Newcastle, the transfer saga may be revived.
CBS News
30 minutes ago
- CBS News
Valkyries behind-the-scenes: Get an all-access view of Golden State's debut season
What's it really like to cover a WNBA game courtside? Here's an all-access view of last month's high-profile showdown between the Golden State Valkyries and the New York Liberty. Go behind the scenes with CBS Sports reporter Matt Lively as he brings you closer than ever to the action with the Liberty's first-ever visit to San Francisco's Chase Center during the Valkyries' unforgettable debut season. From the pregame press access to postgame interviews, the video reveals the emotion, speed, and precision of both the players and the journalists who cover them. It's a rare, unfiltered look at sports journalism in action - a must-watch for any aspiring reporter Even after a tough loss, the Valkyries showed grace, grit, and the mindset of a team building something big - and this video captures it all. As the WNBA continues to rise, stories like this show why it's more than a game - it's a movement.
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Knicks sign Mikal Bridges to four-year, $150 million contract extension
Mikal Bridges' future with the Knicks is no longer in question, as the team has signed the veteran guard to a four-year, $150 million contract extension, sources confirmed to SNY. Bridges was eligible for a four-year extension worth as much as $156 million. By agreeing to a deal at $6 million less than the max, Bridges gives the Knicks some financial flexibility in an era where every dollar counts for contending teams. That future financial flexibility was an important part of the deal for the Knicks and Bridges, per sources familiar with the matter. 'He wants to be here and wants to win here,' a league source told SNY. Bridges, who joined the Knicks last summer in an offseason trade with the Nets, averaged 17.6 points with 3.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds across 82 regular season games in 2024-25. The 28-year-old then scored 15.6 points on average in the playoffs, helping the Knicks make a run to the Eastern Conference Finals. He had an up-and-down regular season but made several clutch plays for New York in the postseason. The Knicks like how Bridges (who turns 29 next month) fits the timeline of their other top players. Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Bridges, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson are all 30 or under. Brunson, Towns, Bridges, Hart and Anunoby are all under contract through 2026-27. The Bridges extension, which was first reported by ESPN, kicks in next season. If he'd waited to become an unrestricted free agent, Bridges would have been eligible for a deal as long as five years and for much more total money. Brunson took a significant discount by signing an extension last summer. His decision to sign the extension instead of waiting until free agency will help the Knicks avoid onerous penalties in the second apron. Bridges' discount will also, to a much lesser degree. But every dollar counts for teams like the Knicks, who want to contend. By having a team salary under the second apron, the Knicks will have more tools to acquire free agents and the flexibility to make trades that they wouldn't have if they are over the second apron, which is $222 million in 2026-27. According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, the Knicks currently have $18 million in space under the second apron heading into the summer of 2027. The Knicks sent five first-round picks to the Nets last summer to acquire Bridges. So they needed to either extend him or put him in a trade that netted a significant return. Now that Bridges is signed to the extension, he is ineligible to be traded for six months.
