Preseason games at home, abroad expand NBA's global reach

DENVER -- George Karl views Saturday's visit by Partizan Belgrade as the start of something bigger than just the second game of the preseason.

"My belief is we have about 10 days of being an ambassador of basketball in a positive way," the Nuggets coach said. "It starts in our building and then we go to China. I've got to tone down the training camp intensity and allow my team to experience these new situations in a positive way. We're going to let our guys have some fun, and allow Taiwan and mainland China to enjoy NBA basketball."

The Nuggets are just part of the NBA's cross-pollination with international basketball throughout October. After facing Partizan Belgrade at the Pepsi Center, the Nuggets head to the Far East for games against the Pacers in Taipei and Beijing. The matchup at Taipei Arena on Oct. 8 is the first-ever NBA game in Taiwan.

The Jazz and Bulls are headed to London to tip off NBA Europe Live on Oct. 6. Utah also faces Real Madrid in Spain on Oct. 8. NBA Mexico Game 2009 features the Suns against the Sixers Oct. 18 in Monterrey. Three Euroleague teams -- Partizan Belgrade, Olympiacos Piraeus and Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv -- are playing preseason games in the United States.

And they're coming over with something to prove.

"They look at those games as a championship game," said Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic, who played three years in Italy. "Whenever an NBA team shows up, they want to do everything possible to beat them. That gives them the ratings and that gives them cause to go up. That's normal because the NBA has the best teams in the universe and I think whenever you play against the best you want to do the best."

Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony, one of the most popular players abroad and no stranger to international competition through USA Basketball, is intrigued by Saturday's meeting. Partizan Belgrade is one of the top teams in Serbia and features potential 2010 lottery pick Jan Vesely.

"It'll be a different type of game playing against a European team," Anthony said. "But we have things to work on regardless of who we're playing against."

Competition between NBA and Euroleague teams dates back to 1978, when Maccabi Tel Aviv hosted Washington in Israel. Fifty-seven games have been played between European and NBA clubs heading into this season.

Considering the international makeup of the NBA, these games are an easy sell from a goodwill standpoint. The league had 77 international players from 33 countries on rosters at the end of last season. Among the league's global superstars are Dirk Nowitzki and Yao Ming.

There's also a monetary advantage to facing European teams on NBA soil. As one NBA executive pointed out, scheduling Euro clubs is less expensive than fellow NBA squads. (NBA teams are responsible for putting together their preseason schedules.) The financial guarantees paid to these traveling teams are usually at least half what NBA teams require.

"It's a lot like guaranteed-money games in college football," the executive said.

It's not about money for players such as Bulls forward Luol Deng. The trip across the pond serves as a homecoming for Deng and he's prepared to act as tour guide for his teammates.

"I'm really excited that we get a chance to play in London," Deng said. "I grew up there, and to have a chance to play in front of friends and family is exciting for me. I'm excited for the guys. Taking a trip like that can bring you together as a team."

That's the hope, anyway. Jazz general manager Kevin O'Conner said the team-building benefits from these trips often outweigh the disruption to the preseason schedule. The Jazz will spend seven days abroad playing just two games.

"From a global point of view, the NBA puts a product on the floor that I don't think anybody else does and we can expose that to more people," O'Conner said. "From a local point of view, I wouldn't want to do it every year, but every four or five years it exposes players to a country they haven't seen before.

"Is it very productive during training camp? I don't think that's the reason we're going."

Several of the Jazz players are already looking forward to catching another sporting event considerably closer to British hearts. Mehmet Okur and Andrei Kirilenko could hardly contain their excitement when talking about a planned outing to a Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Liverpool. Several of the Bulls, including Deng are also going.

As for the basketball game, Jazz guard Deron Williams considers it a recruiting possibility. The Jazz already have a strong following in Turkey (Okur) and Russia (Kirilenko). The exposure in The O2 Arena may help convert a few new English followers.

"It'll be a chance for fans in another country to see the Utah Jazz play," Williams said.

And for some NBA players to do the same. "I've never been out of this country," Jazz forward Paul Millsap said. With respect to Canada, cheers.

If you have a question or comment for Art Garcia, send him an email.