NBA opens new league office in Moscow

MOSCOW, Sept. 9, 2010 -- The National Basketball Association (NBA) has opened a new office in Moscow as part of its ongoing effort to bring the NBA closer to its growing fanbase in Russia and Eastern Europe. The announcement was made today in Moscow by NBA Deputy Commissioner and COO Adam Silver.

Egor Borisov has joined the NBA as Vice President of Development, Russia and Eastern Europe, and will lead the league's business and basketball development efforts, working closely with partners and various basketball entities to further grow the sport in the region. Borisov will report to Senior Vice President, NBA Europe Sophie Goldschmidt.

"This is a great time for the NBA to expand its presence in Russia, especially given Mikhail Prokhorov's commitment to further grow the sport in the country," said Silver. "We are excited to open our first office and we welcome Egor Borisov, whose wealth of experience and tremendous enthusiasm for the game will help spur the continued growth of basketball in the region."

"We are very supportive of the NBA's decision to open an office in Moscow," said New Jersey Nets Principal Owner Mikhail Prokhorov. "I look forward to working together with the NBA to create more opportunities for boys and girls and students throughout Russia to become active basketball participants."

"Basketball and the NBA are extremely popular throughout Russia and Eastern Europe," said Borisov. "I am excited to join the NBA and look forward to representing such an iconic brand as we grow the game both on and off the court."

Borisov comes to the NBA from NBC Universal, where he was managing director for Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). He has more than 15 years business management experience, including roles as a senior sales and operations executive at Sun Interbrew Russia and Unilever Russia. He will be based in Moscow and will work closely with the NBA's regional European offices based in London, Madrid, Milan, and Paris.

The NBA's presence in Russia dates back to 1988, when the Atlanta Hawks toured the Soviet Union, which included a stop in Moscow. Moscow also played host to the Los Angeles Clippers during 2006 NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTSTM, which featured games between the Clippers and Russian Euroleague teams BC Khimki and CSKA Moscow. This year, CSKA Moscow will travel to the United States to play preseason games against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder. A total of seven Russians have played in the NBA, including NBA All-Star and current Utah Jazz forward, Andrei Kirilenko. Russian businessman Mikhail Prokorhov's recent purchase of the New Jersey Nets further solidified Russia's connection to the NBA when he became the first majority owner of an NBA team from outside North America.

The NBA has offices in 16 markets worldwide, including seven in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region: the headquarters in London, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Madrid, Milan, Moscow, and Paris.