The NBA announced yesterday that six regular-season games will be held in Europe over the next few years. These games will be featured in Berlin and London in 2026, Manchester and Paris in 2027, and Berlin and Paris in 2028. It was also announced that the Memphis Grizzlies will take on the Orlando Magic in 2026, where they will play in those respective European cities.
Jason Wexler, the President of the Memphis Grizzlies, said that the organization “appreciate[s] the opportunity to represent the NBA and to represent the city of Memphis and state of Tennessee on an international stage in Berlin and London." Wexler went on to mention that this is the first time the Grizzlies have had the opportunity to play a regular-season game on the international stage, so this is a pretty big deal.
Relative to other NBA cities, Memphis is a smaller market, and the Grizzlies do not have the same level of viewership as larger markets such as Los Angeles or Chicago. In this case, though, the games will be seen by a global audience; people who love basketball all over the world will get to watch the Grizzlies and Magic square off in January.
Grizzlies stars are ready to shine
This type of viewership is huge for a small market team like Memphis. Not only does it increase visibility for the team as a whole, but it also highlights individual players in the global spotlight. Take Ja Morant, for example, who is already a star in the eyes of basketball fans all over the United States.
While international fans likely have seen his explosive dunks or highlight reels, this is an opportunity for Morant to grow his global fan base even more. Names like Jaren Jackson Jr., Jaylen Wells, Brandon Clarke, Zach Edey, Scotty Pippen Jr., Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Santi Aldama are already well-known by Grizzlies fans, but now the rest of the world will get to witness the talent and depth of the entire roster.
The power of international NBA fans
Having an international fanbase is beneficial to an organization for several reasons. Think about ticket sales, jersey sales, or even brand recognition. Many avid fans will also travel across the world to watch their favorite teams or players. Just last season, a fan from South Korea made headlines for traveling 6,000 miles to watch his favorite basketball player.
Taehyun Kim, a Russell Westbrook superfan, flew to Denver to watch Westbrook play against the Sacramento Kings. This story touched the hearts of many fans, as Westbrook gave Kim a shoutout over the microphone once the game had ended and also gifted him his game-worn jersey.
Then there’s Tom Hur, or as he calls himself, the “#1 Detroit Pistons fan from South Korea.” Hur has flown to Detroit before to support his favorite team, but he also has a large social media presence. It even got to the point where the Detroit Pistons noticed his loyalty and support, so they sent him custom jerseys and signed memorabilia.
This just goes to show that fans, no matter where they live, will go through great lengths to support their favorite teams. Having an international game that will be viewed by millions will benefit the Grizzlies in a lot of ways. Whether it’s an increase in jersey sales, brand and player recognition, or selling more tickets to the games, more people will know who the Memphis Grizzlies are next year.