By Official Release
Posted Jul 27 2009 3:32PM
BARCELONA, Spain -- Euroleague Basketball and The National Basketball Association (NBA) have announced that two Euroleague teams will compete in four preseason games from October 3 to 12, 2009 in the United States. The four games, which are part of the Euroleague American Tour 2009, will be played by Olympiacos Piraeus of Greece and Partizan Belgrade of Serbia. The two Euroleague teams will face four NBA opponents: the Denver Nuggets, the Phoenix Suns, the San Antonio Spurs and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
"We are very proud about this kind of initiative, which is very attractive for our clubs and fans, confirms the globalization of basketball and reinforces the healthy relationship between Euroleague Basketball and the NBA," Euroleague Basketball CEO Jordi Bertomeu stated.
"These games continue our collaboration with Euroleague Basketball as we work together to grow the game of basketball globally," said David Stern, NBA Commissioner.
The Euroleague American Tour 2009 continues a tradition of friendly competition between NBA and Euroleague teams that dates back to 1978, when Maccabi Tel Aviv played the Washington Bullets in Tel Aviv, Israel. A total of 57 games have been played between European and NBA clubs.
The Euroleague American Tour 2009 will tip off on Saturday, October 3 in Denver, Colorado, where Partizan Belgrade makes its North American debut against the Nuggets. Partizan's second preseason game will take place in Phoenix, Arizona, against the Suns on Tuesday, October 6.
Olympiacos Piraeus will play two games in the United States. First, the 2008-09 Euroleague semifinalists will face the four-time NBA champion Spurs (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007) in San Antonio, Texas on Friday, October 9. Three days later, on Monday, October 12, Olympiacos will make the last stop in the Euroleague American Tour 2009 with a showdown in Cleveland against the Cavaliers.
Another Euroleague team appearing next autumn in the United States is Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv, which is scheduled to play the New York Knicks on Sunday, October 18 in New York, and the Los Angeles Clippers two nights later, on Tuesday, October 20, in Los Angeles.
Two NBA teams -- the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz - will participate in NBA Europe Live 2009 presented by EA Sports. The Jazz will play the Bulls on Oct. 6 at the O2 in London, followed by the Jazz versus Real Madrid of the Euroleague on Oct. 8 at the Palacio de Deportes in Madrid.
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