NBA to host games in London and Manchester
NBA's matches in Europe in 2026, 2027 and 2028
2026Thursday, 15 January: Orlando Magic v Memphis Grizzlies - Uber Arena, BerlinSunday, 18 January: Memphis Grizzlies v Orlando Magic - O2 Arena, London2027One match at Accor Arena, ParisOne match at Co-op Live, Manchester2028One match at Uber Arena, BerlinOne 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.
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