NBA returns to Mexico

-Courtesy of the National Basketball Association

NEW YORK, May 26, 2009 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) today
announced that as part of the league’s ongoing commitment to growing the
game in Mexico, preseason basketball will return to the country when the
Phoenix Suns face the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 18 in Monterrey. This
marks the NBA’s second visit to Monterrey and the 18th game in Mexico
overall, the most NBA games held in any country outside the United States
and Canada.

NBA Mexico Game 2009 will give fans in Mexico the chance to see two
exciting teams and some of the league’s biggest stars compete in the
state-of-the-art Arena Monterrey. Currently, the Phoenix Suns’ roster
features four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal, two-time NBA Most
Valuable Player Steve Nash, and the 2006-07 NBA Sixth Man of the Year and
Brazilian native Leandro Barbosa. The Philadelphia 76ers, who made the
2008-09 NBA playoffs, are a young team on the rise, whose lineup currently
features Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand and Thaddeus Young. Tickets will be on
sale as of June 1st at www.arenamonterrey.com.

“We're thrilled about the opportunity to bring some of the NBA's most
exciting teams and accomplished players to Monterrey," said NBA Senior Vice
President of International Development and Partnerships Emilio Collins.
"Our fans in Mexico are some of the most passionate in the world, and this
year's NBA Mexico Game is sure to provide them with an unforgettable NBA
experience.”

The league first visited Monterrey in 2006, when the Golden State Warriors
defeated the Denver Nuggets in front of a sellout crowd at the Arena
Monterrey. Mexico is the only international country other than Japan and
Canada to ever host an NBA regular-season game, when the Houston Rockets
defeated the Dallas Mavericks in front of the sold-out Palacio de los
Deportes on Dec. 6, 1997 in Mexico City. The WNBA also staged an exhibition
game at Arena Monterrey in 2004, when the Detroit Shock defeated the San
Antonio Silver Stars.

NBA Mexico Game 2009 is the second preseason game the NBA has announced
that will be played outside the United States and Canada this October. The
Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz will play in London, UK on Oct. 6 as part
of NBA Europe Live 2009 presented by EA SPORTS. To date, the NBA has
staged a total of 93 games outside of the U.S. and Canada in 31 cities in
16 countries and territories.

During the 2008-09 season, a record 66 games per week were available for
fans in Mexico via television and broadband. NBA merchandise is currently
sold at retail outlets throughout the country and the annual NBA Gatorade
3x3 interschool league and tournament tipped of on April 20 and is expected
to have a record number of teams participate. At the end of the 2008-09
NBA season, NBA rosters featured 17 Latino players, including New Jersey
Nets forward and Mexican-born Eduardo Najera.

For additional informational about NBA Mexico Game 2009, please visit
www.nba.com/espanol.