NEW YORK, July 31, 2006, -- When the world’s best teams gather in Japan for the 2006 FIBA World Championship, NBA TV will be there presenting 27 games. NBA TV will feature preliminary, quarterfinal, semifinal and finals matches on a tape-delayed basis beginning with a preliminary round game between 2004 Summer Olympic gold medalist Argentina and France on Saturday, Aug. 19.

Prior to the World Championship, the network will air five USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team exhibition games starting with a replay of the 2006 State Farm USA Basketball Challenge in Las Vegas (originally airing on ESPN2 on Aug. 3) against Puerto Rico. NBA TV also will present live telecasts of U.S. games from Guangzhou, China, against Brazil on Tuesday, Aug. 8 at 8 a.m. ET and from Seoul, Korea, against Lithuania on Sunday, Aug. 13 at 1 a.m. ET.

The 2006 FIBA World Championship will tip off in Japan on Saturday, Aug. 19. Expanded to 24 teams, the World Championship will hold preliminary games in Sendai, Hiroshima, Hamamatsu and Sapporo. Quarterfinal, semifinal and finals action will take place in Saitamo. In addition to the exhibition games, NBA TV will televise at least five USA Basketball games during the tournament, which will originally air live on ESPN2, including preliminary round matches against Puerto Rico on Sunday, Aug. 20, and China on Monday, Aug. 21.

Led by Duke University head coach Mike Krzyzewski, the USA Basketball World Championship roster features 15 of the NBA’s best players: Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets), Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards), Shane Battier (Houston Rockets), Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors), Bruce Bowen (San Antonio Spurs), Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers), Kirk Hinrich (Chicago Bulls), Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic), LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers), Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards), Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks), Brad Miller (Sacramento Kings), Chris Paul (New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets), Amaré Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns) and Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat). Krzyzewski will scale down the USA Basketball roster to 12 players by August 19 and the start of the World Championship in Japan.

Hosted by Andre Aldridge, NBA TV’s 2006 FIBA World Championship schedule includes:

USA Basketball Exhibition Schedule

Air Date Air Time Location Game
Friday, August 4 4 p.m. ET Las Vegas USA vs. Puerto Rico
Tuesday, August 8 8 a.m. ET Guangzhou USA vs. Brazil
Tuesday, August 8 4 p.m. ET Guangzhou USA vs. China
Sunday, August 13 1 a.m. ET Seoul USA vs. Lithuania
Wednesday, August 16 4 p.m. ET Seoul USA vs. Korea

2006 FIBA World Championship

Air Date Air Time Location Game
Saturday, August 19 4 p.m. ET Sapporo Argentina vs. France
Saturday, August 19 6 p.m. ET Sapporo Turkey vs. Lithuania
Sunday, August 20 4 p.m. ET Sapporo USA vs. Puerto Rico
Sunday, August 20 6 p.m. ET Sapporo France vs. Serbia & Montenegro
Sunday, August 20 8 p.m. ET Sapporo Argentina vs. Lebanon
Monday, August 21 4 p.m. ET Sapporo USA vs. China
Monday, August 21 6 p.m. ET Sapporo Germany vs. Spain
Tuesday, August 22 4 p.m. ET Sapporo China vs. Puerto Rico
Tuesday, August 22 6 p.m. ET Sapporo Italy vs. Senegal
Wednesday, August 23 4 p.m. ET Sapporo USA vs. Slovenia
Wednesday, August 23 6 p.m. ET Sapporo Venezuela vs. Serbia & Montenegro
Wednesday, August 23 8 p.m. ET Sapporo Nigeria vs. Argentina
Thursday, August 24 2 p.m. ET Sapporo USA vs. Italy
Thursday, August 24 4 p.m. ET Sapporo Slovenia vs. China
Friday, August 25 4 p.m. ET Sapporo USA vs. Senegal
Friday, August 25 6 p.m. ET Sapporo Lithuania vs. Brazil
Saturday, August 26 4 p.m. ET Saitama Turkey vs. Greece
Saturday, August 26 6 p.m. ET Saitama Italy vs. Puerto Rico
Sunday, August 27 6 p.m. ET Saitama Eighth-Final
Sunday, August 27 8 p.m. ET Saitama Eighth-Final
Tuesday, August 29 TBD Saitama Quarterfinal Game
Tuesday, August 29 TBD Saitama Quarterfinal Game
Wednesday, August 30 TBD Saitama Quarterfinal Game
Wednesday, August 30 TBD Saitama Quarterfinal Game
Saturday, September 2 4 p.m. ET Saitama Semifinal Game
Saturday, September 2 6 p.m. ET Saitama Semifinal Game
Monday, September 4 4 p.m. ET Saitama Championship Game