Slovenia guard Luka Doncic (77), right, reacts after getting fouled by a Slovenia player in the first half of the Basketball World Cup group F match in Okinawa, southern Japan, Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
MADRID— Luka Doncic will be returning to where he began his basketball career, at least for one game. The NBA has announced that Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks will play a preseason game in October against reigning EuroLeague champion Real Madrid in Spain. This game will be the NBA’s eighth in the Spanish capital and 20th in Spain overall. It comes 35 years after the first NBA team played in the country in 1988.
Doncic, a talented NBA player and four-time NBA All-Star, joined Real Madrid at the age of 13 and went on to become the youngest EuroLeague and EuroLeague Final Four MVP when he led Real Madrid to the 2018 title at the age of 19.
In addition to Doncic, Real Madrid features several other notable players including Spanish legend Sergio Llull and former NBA players Rudy Fernández, Mario Hezonja, Džanan Musa, and Sergio Rodríguez. The team is the most successful in EuroLeague history, having won 11 titles.
This matchup will mark the first preseason NBA game in Madrid since 2016 when Doncic and Real Madrid played against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Before their game in Spain, the Mavericks will also play two preseason games against the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023.
NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum expressed excitement about bringing the live NBA experience to fans in Spain and Europe. Real Madrid Ambassador Felipe Reyes also shared his anticipation for the game, noting that facing an NBA team is always special, especially with the presence of Doncic, a “Real Madrid legend”.
The Boston Celtics were the first NBA team to play in Spain, going up against the Yugoslavian Men’s National Team and Real Madrid in 1988.
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Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
