NBA Europe Live Tour

The NBA Europe Live Tour is an event organised yearly since 2006. Its purpose is to bring teams from the National Basketball Association (NBA) to play games against mainly Euroleague but also Eurocup teams.

The games themselves are played under NBA rules, which differ slightly from the FIBA rules which the Euroleague teams normally play under. Court markings also differ slightly.

History

In 2006, it had the format of a competition, with the Philadelphia 76ers winning the trophy and CSKA Moscow becoming the runner-up.

In 2007, the event switched its format to a level of show friendly games between Euroleague teams and NBA teams.

The 2008 edition featured only NBA teams, because the Euroleague decided not to allow its teams to play pre-season games against NBA teams.

In 2009, though, Euroleague changed their mind and Real Madrid was allowed to play a game against the Utah Jazz. Two days previously, the Chicago Bulls defeated the Jazz by a point in London, England.

The 2010 NBA Europe Live Tour had games played in Milan, Barcelona, Paris, and London, and involved the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Regal Barcelona, and Armani Jeans Milano.

• New York Knicks vs. AJ Milano (Oct. 3) Milan - Mediolanum Forum
• Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (Oct. 4) London - The O2 Arena
• New York Knicks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (Oct. 6) Paris - Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
• Los Angeles Lakers vs. Regal Barcelona (Oct. 7) Barcelona - Palau Sant Jordi

The NBA Europe Live Tour was not held in 2011 due to the lockout.

The 2012 NBA Europe Live Tour was held in Turkey, Germany, Italy and Spain. This edition featured the Boston Celtics playing Turkey's Fenerbahçe Ülker and Italy's Armani Jeans Milano, and the Dallas Mavericks playing Germany's Alba Berlin and Spain's FC Barcelona.