NBA Global Games 2017: Schedule, Matchups Announced for Regular-Season Games
Mexico will serve as the host of two NBA regular-season games in the same campaign for the first time in league history in January 2017.
NBA Communications announced Wednesday the Phoenix Suns will take part in both contests on Jan. 12 and Jan. 14. Their opponents will be the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs. The games will take place at Mexico City Arena, with other interactive fan events also part of the showcase.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is happy the league is taking the next step with the Global Games concept after more than two decades working with Mexico.
"We've been playing NBA games in Mexico for 25 years, and we're thrilled that for the first time we are bringing two regular-season games to Mexico City, featuring three teams with an exciting mix of veteran talent and emerging stars," he said as part of the official announcement.
Suns president Jason Rowley also released a statement, referring to Mexico City as the organization's "second home" for the 2016-17 season.
"It's an honor to make history alongside the NBA and call Mexico City a second home of the Suns this season," he said. "We have an incredibly strong and supportive Hispanic fanbase in Arizona, and these two games present a unique opportunity to strengthen our relationship with NBA fans in both Arizona and Mexico."
The NBA first started contesting regular-season games outside the United States and Canada in 1990 with a series of matchups in Japan. The current push began picking up steam in 2011 with games being rotated between London and Mexico City.
Next January's games will be the third and fourth held at Mexico City Arena. The venue previously hosted the Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves in 2014 and the Boston Celtics and Sacramento Kings in 2015.
The idea of international expansion is a topic that frequently comes up across the American sports spectrum, most notably with the NFL and NBA. Silver stated in March he's not sure that's necessary given today's connected world, according to Ananth Pandian of CBS Sports:
"The issue with the NBA right now, is every team in essence, can have a global following. The need to expand the footprint by physically putting another team in a market becomes less important from a league standpoint. And therefore, the way the owners see expansion at the moment is really the equivalent of selling equity in the (league).
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In turn, it sounds like the league is content with holding with these types of annual events in Mexico City or London and possibly beyond at some point. But the potential of a permanent franchise in one of those cities appears remote for the time being.
It's still important to hold meaningful games in those cities with stars such as Dirk Nowitzki and Kawhi Leonard in order to give fans a taste of the league and leave them wanting more. Giving Mexico a chance to host two straight games is the perfect way to share the NBA experience.
