October 20, 2003

NEW YORK, OCTOBER 16, 2003 - The most highly anticipated NBA season in years will tip off October 28 as the NBA rolls out the red carpet with the first-ever "PREMIERE WEEK," a basketball-theme week of global debuts and special events both on- and off-the-court for fans around the world.

Highlights of "PREMIERE WEEK," which culminates November 3, include the San Antonio Spurs' championship ring ceremony, pre-game concerts, new advertising and promotions by 18 of the league's marketing and merchandising partners and the world premiere of the NBA's return to its famed 'I Love This Game" advertising campaign.

PREMIERE WEEK will feature:

Basketball Highlights

Players making new team debut: Payton and Malone (Lakers), Sprewell (T-wolves) and Mourning (Nets)

10 NBA coaches with new teams

The highly anticipated debut of this year's rookies LeBron James, Darko Milicic, and Carmelo Anthony

Nearly 80 international players on opening day team rosters.

NBA Action on TV

11 nationally televised games on TNT, ESPN and NBA TV

NBA games will air in 212 countries televised by 134 broadcasters

Seven new shows on NBA TV air including Real Training Camp with the Denver Nuggets, Basketball International Weekly and The NBA Store featuring the latest in NBA fashion and merchandise.

Special Events and Promotions

All 29 team fan events, pep rallies and/or promotions on their opening nights

The return to "I Love This Game" as the NBA's advertising campaign.

NBA.com will be unveiling four new sections and three new games

Six new uniform debuts including Cleveland ,Denver ,Houston ,and Orlando

More than 30 NBA players featured in new television advertising by 16 companies

18marketing and merchandising companies promoting PREMIERE WEEK will reach 50 million fans

The first regular season game at the new arena of the Houston Rockets.

1,000 Reasons Why I Love This Game
Returning to the league's vaunted "I Love This Game" campaign, the NBA will debut the first of more than 50 spots this season on October 28. The campaign will feature NBA players, celebrities and fans with the theme of "1,000 Reasons Why I Love This Game."

NBA Season Tips Off Worldwide with PREMIERE WEEK

Jerry Seinfeld, Jennifer Aniston, Chris Rock, Spike Lee, Sting, Cindy Crawford, and even Kermit the Frog appeared in some of the more than 100 ads, from 1992 to 1999. NBA players, fans and even mascots also appeared in the league's most popular and successful advertising campaign. Who will be the NBA's next generation of "I Love This Game" stars? The league will unveil the first round of celebrity fans for the campaign during PREMIERE WEEK.

NBA Team Events
All 29 NBA teams will conduct special events, pep rallies and/or promotions on their opening nights in conjunction with PREMIERE WEEK. As an example, the Philadelphia 76ers will feature a movie premiere theme complete with a red carpet and search lights as part of an unveiling of the 76ers Walk of Fame. The event will feature special "Hollywood" stars complete with each Sixers players' uniform number to be displayed on the concourse. Each players' star will be available to fans for purchase via a silent auction that evening, with all proceeds benefiting Sixers' Charities. All fans attending Philadelphia's first game will receive a free bag of popcorn.

National and Internationally Televised NBA Games
The NBA will open the 2003-04 season with four straight nights of nationally televised doubleheaders on TNT and ESPN beginning on Tuesday, October 28. Following is the schedule (all times listed are Eastern).

Tuesday, October 28th
Phoenix @ San Antonio - TNT, 8 p.m.- Spurs championship ring ceremony and a performance by Thalia.
Dallas @ L.A. Lakers - TNT, 10:30 p.m. - Debut of Karl Malone and Gary Payton in purple and gold.

Wednesday, October 29th
Orlando @ New York - ESPN, 8 p.m. - Tracy McGrady showcases new Magic uniforms vs. new look Knicks. Cleveland @ Sacramento - ESPN, 10:30 p.m. - LeBron James's first game in the NBA.

Thursday, October 30th
L.A. Clippers vs. Seattle from Japan - NBA TV, 5:30 a.m. - Two teams open the season in Japan.
Denver @ Houston - TNT, 8 p.m. - Carmelo Anthony's first televised NBA game, Houston's first game in new Toyota Center, under Jeff Van Gundy and in new uniforms.
Cleveland @ Phoenix - TNT, 10:30 p.m. - This year's most touted rookie takes on the Suns and Amare Stoudemire, last season's got milk? Rookie of the Year.

Friday, October 31st
Minnesota @ New Jersey - ESPN, 8 p.m. - The revamped Timberwolves take on last year's Eastern Conference champs.
Philadelphia @ Sacramento - ESPN, 10:30 p.m. - Two of the league's most exciting teams square off.

Saturday, November 1st
Cleveland @ Portland in HD- NBA TV, 10 p.m. - LeBron James and the Cavaliers take on the talented Blazers

Sunday, November 2nd
Golden State @ L.A. Lakers - NBA TV, 9:30 p.m. - Warriors take on the new look Lakers.

Contacts:
Mike Bass, NBA, 212-407-8769, MBASS@NBA.COM
Matt Bourne, NBA, 212-407-8093, MBOURNE@NBA.COM