NBA Global Games 2015: Complete Schedule, Live Stream and More
The NBA is going international this season for more than just Toronto Raptors games.
The Global Games consist of preseason contests and two regular-season clashes outside of the United States and Canada and features the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets from the NBA, and international clubs Real Madrid, Olimpia and Flamengo.
The regular-season games will pit the Magic against the Raptors in London and the Kings against the Celtics in Mexico City.
Here is a look at the complete Global Games schedule, courtesy of NBA.com, as well as a couple of notable players to watch. The NBA Global Games can be seen via live stream on the NBA League Pass here.
| Oct. 6 | Milan, Italy | Olimpia Milano vs. Boston Celtics |
| Oct. 8 | Madrid, Spain | Real Madrid vs. Boston Celtics |
| Oct. 11 | Shenzhen, China | L.A. Clippers vs. Charlotte Hornets |
| Oct. 14 | Shanghai, China | Charlotte Hornets vs. L.A. Clippers |
| Oct. 17 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Flamengo vs. Orlando Magic |
| Dec. 3 | Mexico City, Mexico | Sacramento Kings vs. Boston Celtics |
| Jan. 14 | London, UK | Orlando Magic vs. Toronto Raptors |
Players to Watch
Mario Hezonja, Orlando Magic
The Magic used the No. 5 overall pick in the last draft on Mario Hezonja largely based on his potential and high ceiling.
He is a 6’8” guard who can post up and shoot over smaller defenders or attack the basket and finish at the rim when faced with taller, slower opponents. He is a mismatch nightmare who can score in a variety of ways, with range well beyond the three-point line.
The Magic already have Elfrid Payton and Victor Oladipo in the backcourt, but they are both defense-first players. Hezonja gives Orlando a potential offensive force who slides in right alongside the speedy backcourt.
The rookie is athletic enough to run the floor with these ball-handling creators, can spot up from beyond the arc when they penetrate and force defenses to collapse and can defend more physical guards to take some of the toll off Oladipo on that end of the floor.
While Hezonja is seen as an offense-first player, Magic general manager Rob Hennigan suggested he can be a capable defender, per Josh B. Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel: “We think he has a lot of firepower offensively and also the ability to defend as well based on his athleticism and ability to move around the floor. We see him as a dynamic player and another young player that we’ve added to the group to continue to grow together.”
Hezonja has the opportunity to develop into a two-way contributor in his first season, as Orlando attempts to make the postseason for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign.
Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid
The current NBA players won’t be the only ones to take center stage at the Global Games. Real Madrid’s Rudy Fernandez will get an opportunity to torch the Boston Celtics with his well-rounded offensive arsenal in a preseason contest.
Fernandez is no stranger to NBA competition. He played from 2008 to 2011 with the Portland Trail Blazers and then 31 games in 2011-12 for the Denver Nuggets. His best season was his rookie campaign, when he posted career-highs in points (10.4), rebounds (2.7), minutes (25.6), field goals made (3.4) and three-pointers made (two) per game and shot an impressive 40 percent from beyond the arc.
He remained a fairly productive role player throughout his tenure and averaged 9.1 points a night in his four seasons.
Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report discussed the playmaker:
"Since leaving the U.S. in 2012, the former first-round pick has been a huge spark for Real Madrid, having averaged double figures in scoring during each of his last four seasons.
An electric athlete with dangerous shooting range, Fernandez is a potent offensive weapon capable of scoring in bunches.
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Like Hezonja, Fernandez is a mismatch because of his size at 6’6” and his ability to score from three-point range. He will find openings in transition and spot up, and he can score points in a hurry if Boston does not find him on every possession.
There are plenty of big, physical guards who can shoot the three in the NBA that the young Celtics such as Marcus Smart, Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder must deal with on the road to a potential playoff spot in the wide-open Eastern Conference.
Matching up with Fernandez gives the Boston backcourt an early opportunity to prepare for that type of competition against a former NBA player.
