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    • The NBA returns to Mexico with the Wizards-Heat game on Saturday
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    The NBA returns to Mexico with the Wizards-Heat game on Saturday

    Pabio Posted on

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    NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum sat in the lounge of the USA Basketball team hotel in Paris. He had just gotten out of a meeting and had two more on his agenda.

    The night before, he had watched the United States beat Serbia in a men’s semifinal, and later in the day he planned to watch the U.S. women’s semifinal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. That was just a glimpse of Tatum’s busy schedule between July and August, which included nearly a month in France and a brief trip back to the United States for a CEO meeting where he serves on the board of directors. administration.

    That’s the kind of globe-trotting Tatum is accustomed to as the person leading the NBA’s international efforts.

    The league’s global footprint continues to grow and on Saturday the Washington Wizards take on the Miami Heat in Mexico City, marking the 33rd game in the country (preseason and regular season). This comes after the preseason game in Abu Dhabi between the Boston Celtics and the Denver Nuggets and before two games scheduled for January in Paris between the San Antonio Spurs (hello, Victor Wembanyama) and the Indiana Pacers.

    The NBA tied a league record with a league-record 125 international players, matching 43 countries on opening night rosters. Wembanyama was the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft, and fellow Frenchmen Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr were top picks. the two best picks of the 2024 draft.

    The last six MVPs (Nikola Jokic three times, Giannis Antetokounmpo twice and Joel Embiid once) were born outside of U.S. grassroots efforts, such as Basketball Without Borders (BWB), which help African countries develop players. South Sudan’s strong performance at the Olympics underlines this point.

    The NBA also continues to explore financial participation in European basketball events, possibly the Euroleague, to maximize its revenue and visibility.

    USA TODAY Sports spoke with Tatum about the growth of basketball and the NBA internationally.

    (Questions and answers edited for clarity and brevity):

    THE UNITED STATES TODAY: What opportunities may exist for the NBA compared to European leagues?

    Tatum: We (the NBA and FIBA, the international governing body of basketball) both have an interest in developing the game of basketball and however we can be helpful in that process, whether it is ‘a new competition or a new structure, we will be interested. by doing this. And this is what we discuss with the different stakeholders: what is the best and right way for us to get involved in this process? What is the best type of product to introduce to the market that will meaningfully engage fans and continue to grow the game of basketball?

    THE UNITED STATES TODAY: We know Sudan and what it is now South Sudan has produced playersbut there seems to be a difference at the moment. What is happening? What are you starting to see on the continent?

    Tatum: We have a three-pronged strategy to grow the game locally. People see this Khaman Malouach was a young kid we found at 14, brought him into our academy, taught him basketball, gave him the training, coaching and development he would now need to play at Duke . And everyone says he’s a projected (lottery) pick for next year’s draft. That’s what’s possible now because we’re investing in the infrastructure there.

    The other part of this strategy is ensuring our content is available to fans wherever they are. And we ensure that our games are widely broadcast on the continent and with the BAL (Basketball Africa League). We are seeing an increase in audience metrics and social media engagements. And then the third part of that strategy is to bring the live gaming experience into it. And that’s why we launched a Basketball Africa League so that young children in Africa can see the path from a grassroots basketball program in Africa to playing professional basketball on the continent. Sometimes the NBA can seem so far away, so now they have an option in their country where they can see that there is a very clear path on “how do I start playing from the grassroots level to professional basketball for a living” .

    THE UNITED STATES TODAY: With gaming growing internationally, is there a limit to ensuring American players are still part of the conversation?

    Tatum: This speaks to the importance of continuing to invest in the development of basketball in every country around the world, including the United States. And I think that’s an area that we’re also very focused on with our Jr. NBA programs and also working very closely with USA Basketball on their youth programs. So that’s an area that we’re very focused on and how can we continue to invest in youth basketball in the United States as well, to make sure that Anthony Edwards, the Devin Bookers, the Jayson Tatums, that these talent continues to permeate our league?

    But I will say that with these international players, Giannis, Jokic, Luka (Doncic) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, they are players born outside of the United States, but they are global superstars. They’re relevant to their fans in the United States and they’re relevant to fans around the world. … That’s what we’re looking for: talent, wherever they come from in the world, to come and play in our league. And I think our fans will appreciate the talent they bring to this league, no matter where they come from.

    THE UNITED STATES TODAY: What are your plans or thoughts to make the WNBA game a little more international?

    Tatum: Huge projects… So let’s talk about it in Africa: the investments we are making concern both men’s basketball and women’s basketball. Camp BWB is also a women’s camp. We have women’s programs in our academy. …The growth of women’s football is also global. And obviously we announced that we were going to Canada (WNBA expansion team in Toronto). We played games there and sold our tickets. I know (WNBA Commissioner) Cathy (Engelbert) and her team are looking at other markets right now. There is a huge demand to bring WNBA games to different parts of Europe. Many people have spoken to us about the possibility of bringing a game to Europe, the Middle East and Asia. And so I think that’s absolutely one of the things that you can look forward to in the near future is also watching WNBA games being played in international markets, before their season and potentially during their season Also.

    THE UNITED STATES TODAY: We talked Wembanyama and the top two picks in 2024 coming from France, is there a reason the market doesn’t stand out as a place where the NBA plays year after year?

    Tatum: Something special is happening in this market in France where the love for basketball is only growing. Of course, football, or international football, continues to be a global sport, but basketball in France, we see all our indicators going in the right direction: talent, number of players, audience, subscribers to the League Pass, and the San Antonio Spurs have become the #1 team to watch and follow in France on League Pass.

    This is a place where we will continue to come and play games and host events because there is such a demand here. I will say this: there is also huge demand in the rest of the continent and other parts of the world. So we haven’t yet determined where we’re going to play in 2026, but we know we’ll play somewhere in Europe because it works. And the game has grown, not just here in France, it has seen phenomenal growth in France, but it has seen phenomenal growth in Germany. …

    “We’re seeing growth in the UK, Spain and all those European markets. But there’s no doubt that France will continue to be there if we think about the landscape in which we play international games.”

    Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt

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