Dallas Mavericks, Real Madrid to play preseason game in Madrid

The NBA announced that the DallasMavericks will play a preseason game against reigning EuroLeaguechampion Real Madrid at the WiZink Center in Madrid on Oct. 10,2023, at 8:45 p.m. CET.

This will be the NBA’s eighth game inthe Spanish capital and 20th game in Spain overall, and it willmark 35 years since the NBA's first game in Spain in 1988.

The Mavericks currently featurefour-time NBA All-Star and All-NBA First Team member Luka Dončić,who joined Real Madrid at the age of 13 and became theyoungest-ever EuroLeague MVP and EuroLeague Final Four MVP when heled Real Madrid to the 2018 EuroLeague title at age 19. TheMavericks also feature 2016 NBA champion and eight-time NBAAll-Star Kyrie Irving.

Real Madrid features Spanish legendand former NBA draftee Sergio Llull as well as several former NBAplayers, including Rudy Fernández, Mario Hezonja, Džanan Musa andSergio Rodríguez. Real Madrid has won a record 36 La Liga ACBchampionships and is the winningest team in EuroLeague history with11 titles.

The matchup marks the first preseasonNBA game in Madrid since 2016, when Dončić and Real Madrid hostedthe Oklahoma City Thunder. In 1988, the Boston Celtics played twogames in Madrid against the then Yugoslavian Men’s National Teamand Real Madrid.

Prior to the game in Madrid, theMavericks will play two preseason games against the MinnesotaTimberwolves on Oct. 5 and 7 as part of The NBA Abu Dhabi Games2023.

“Bringing the live NBA experiencedirectly to our passionate international fans is an important partof our year-round efforts to grow basketball and the NBA around theworld,” said NBA deputy commissioner and chief operating officerMark Tatum. “We’re excited for the Mavericks to play Real Madridand look forward to engaging with fans from Spain and across Europearound this historic matchup.”

“Following our preseason games in AbuDhabi, we are thrilled to play the game we love for the MFFLs inMadrid,” said Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall. “Our team is lucky tohave one of the greatest international NBA ambassadors in Luka, andwe look forward to connecting with Real Madrid and their fans.”

“Facing an NBA team is always special,but on this occasion even more so, as it will give us theopportunity to once again enjoy a Real Madrid legend and NBA starlike Luka Dončić, who proudly carries the name of our club andpresumes of being a Madridista wherever he goes,” said Real Madridambassador Felipe Reyes. “It will be a great spectacle and a veryexciting moment for all madridistas and basketball lovers.”

Tickets for the game will go ongeneral sale Aug. 31. Fans can check Real Madrid’s website for more information. The game will air live in theU.S. on NBA TV and Bally Sports Southwest. Additional broadcastdistribution details will be available at a later date.

There have been 16 NBA players fromSpain, including 2023 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fameinductee Pau Gasol. NBA games have aired in Spain since the 1987-88season, and the league opened its office in Madrid in2007.

NBA games are currently available inSpain on NBA League Pass via the NBA App, including 39 weekendgames during the 2023-24 season that will air in primetime inEurope as part of the league’s “NBA Saturdays and NBA Sundays”initiative.