The NBA will play its sixth regular-season game in London next January 14 when the Toronto Raptors face the Orlando Magic at the O2 Arena, the league announced Wednesday.
The Raptors played back-to-back games in London in 2011, marking the first NBA regular-season contests played in Europe, while the Magic first visited London in 1993 for two pre-season games.
“We look forward to returning to London next season,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said. “This underscores our commitment to growing basketball in the region and to bringing more regular-season basketball to our fans in the UK.”
Raptors president and general manager Masai Ujiri, a Nigerian who was named NBA Executive of the Year in 2013, hopes the only non-US NBA club can connect with international fans.
“We are proud to return to London,” he said. “We had a tremendous experience in London in 2011 and look forward to reconnecting with the fans and community. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to continue in the NBA’s mission to make an impact globally.”
Magic coach Scott Skiles played for Orlando when the team visited in 1993.
“I’m sure our current players will relish this unique opportunity,” he said. – Agence France-Presse
