Determined to grow the game abroad, the NBA recently announced its 116-game preseason will tip when the Oklahoma City Thunder face Turkish club Fenerbahce Ulker at Ulker Sports Arena. The game will put one of the league’s premiere stars in Kevin Durant in front of an international audience.
“The 2013-14 NBA Global Games preseason slate includes eight NBA teams playing eight preseason games in eight cities,” a league statement read. “In addition to Oklahoma City’s game in Istanbul, there will be contests in Beijing and Shanghai; Bilbao, Spain; Manchester, England; Manila, Philippines; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Taipei. NBA TV will televise all eight international contests, and more than 25 games overall.”
“TNT and ESPN will each televise two games during October. TNT begins its NBA coverage on Thursday, Oct. 17, when LeBron James and the two-time defending champion Miami Heat visits Deron Williams and the new-look Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center at 8 p.m. ET. The network will also feature a contest between the defending Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs and the Rockets on Thursday Oct. 24, at 8 p.m. ET from AT&T Center.”
The NBA regular season officially begins on Tuesday, October 29.