NBA London Game 2018

(Reblogged from the Sunday Express, by Stuart Ballard)

The NBA is growing rapidly in popularity in the UK with more fans than ever tuning in during the early hours of the morning to watch their favourite stars in action.

But for one week of the regular season since 2011 NBA fans in the UK get the chance to see the sport up close and personal as the biggest basketball stars cross the Atlantic to play at The 02 Arena in London.

 

All-Stars such as Carmelo Anthony, Paul George, DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to name but a few have all entertained fans in London over the past few years.

But the 2018 edition — the eighth regular season match to be played in London — promises to be stack full of talent to excite all NBA fans in the UK.

The Celtics have All-Stars in Isaiah Thomas, Gordon Hayward and Al Horford while their young talent in Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have huge futures ahead of them.

And then there are the 76ers, a team built around ‘The Process’ Joel Embiid who lit up the NBA in his debut season last year.

Add in the No1 Draft picks from the last two seasons in Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz and the hostile rivalry between Philadelphia and Boston and fans are certain to not be disappointed.

And two-time All-Star Thomas can’t wait to see what London has to offer in terms of support.

“It's very exciting for our team and the whole Celtics organisation to compete in front of our loyal fans in London,” he said. “I can’t wait to connect with them at the NBA London Game 2018 and hopefully make new fans in the process.” 

Embiid is equally enthusiastic about the chance to play in front of a packed 02 Arena and promised to put on a show for the UK crowd. “I look forward to coming back to London with the Sixers after visiting for the first time this summer,” he said. “We are a young, hungry team and will be sure to give the fans an exciting game against Boston in January.”

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