The NBA is sending Luol Deng back home for a preseason game in the British capital.
The Chicago forward, who grew up in London after his family fled conflict-torn Sudan, is expected to play for the Bulls when they face the Utah Jazz on Oct. 6 at the O2 Arena as the NBA heads to Europe for a preseason tour for the fourth straight year.
“It has always been my dream to play for the Bulls in London,” Deng said yesterday in a statement. “They were the team I supported as a kid growing up and I am looking forward to playing in front of my hometown family and friends.”
The Bulls, who also have British player Ben Gordon on the roster, last played in Europe in 1997 when Michael Jordan led the team to the McDonald’s Championship title with a 104-78 win over European champion Olympiakos in Paris.
SECOND GAME
A second game on this year’s NBA Europe Live Tour will be announced at a later date, with the Jazz expected to play a yet to be named opponent.
Last year, the Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets and Washington Wizards played two games each, but only against each other, in London, Paris, Barcelona and Berlin. In 2006 and 2007, teams including the Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs played both local and other NBA teams around the continent.
INTERNATIONAL
The NBA says it has 77 international players from 32 countries and territories on its rosters, and commissioner David Stern said last year that the league likely would play regular-season games in London before the city hosts the 2012 Olympics.
Although NBA is still playing only preseason games in Europe, the NHL is opening its season on the continent for the third straight year, with the Detroit Red Wings facing the St. Louis Blues in Stockholm on Oct. 2-Oct. 3 and the Chicago Blackhawks playing the Florida Panthers in Helsinki on the same dates.
The NFL is also playing a regular-season game in Europe for the third straight year, with the New England Patriots playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 25 at Wembley Stadium in London.
Taiwan kept their hopes of advancing to next year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Saturday, backed by solid pitching. Taiwan last night played against Nicaragua. As of press time, Nicaragua was leading 6-0. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan on Saturday kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen struck out one and allowed no hits, except for a hit-by-pitch over
Team Taiwan are set to face Spain in a win-or-go-home match tonight for the final berth at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), despite losing to Nicaragua 6-0 in the WBC qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Sunday. The home team’s loss on Sunday means Nicaragua finish first in the qualifier round in Taipei with a perfect 3-0 record and advances to next year’s finals. After crushing South Africa 9-1 earlier on Sunday, Spain took second place in the four-team qualifier with a 2-1 record. With a 1-2 record, Taiwan finished third while South Africa placed at the bottom with
Team Taiwan avoided missing the World Baseball Classic (WBC) for the first time by defeating Spain 6-3 in a do-or-die game in Taipei last night. After narrowly escaping a mercy-rule loss to Spain in the WBC Qualifiers opener on Friday last week, the home team — winner of last year's WBSC Premier12 title three months ago — got their revenge against the 2023 European champions at Taipei Dome. "It felt quite different from when we won the Premier12," Taiwan captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) said after the game, recalling the ups and downs the team has experienced over the past few days. Unlike in
Team Taiwan are set to face Spain in a win-or-go-home match tomorrow for the final berth at next year's World Baseball Classic (WBC), despite losing to Nicaragua 6-0 in the WBC qualifier at the Taipei Dome yesterday. The home team's loss means that Nicaragua finishes No. 1 in the qualifier round held in Taipei with a perfect 3-0 record and advances to the games. After crushing South Africa 9-1 earlier yesterday, Spain took second place in the four-team qualifier with a 2-1 record. With a 1-2 record, Taiwan, competing under the name Chinese Taipei, finished third, while South Africa placed at the bottom
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