By Rick Horrow and Karla Swatek
October 7, 2013
The NBA this season is offering its most comprehensive slate of international games. For the 2014 season, the NBA Global Games includes a record 12 NBA teams playing 10 games (eight preseason and two regular-season games) in seven countries. Games will be played for the first time in Brazil, the Philippines, Bilbao, Spain and Manchester, England. This season also marks the first time the league is playing international regular-season games in two countries. Collectively, the teams playing internationally will travel more than 116,000 miles.
Arguably more so than any other league, the NBA has embraced foreign markets in an attempt to grow its brand. NBA games this season will be broadcast in 215 countries and territories, and the league has 455 million followers across worldwide social media platforms. By the end of the season, the NBA will have played 146 games in 20 different countries since 1978.
