ESPN to show NBA in UK
ESPN tips off it’s NBA coverage on Thursday night with New York Knicks versus Miami Heat and runs through to the end of the 2012-13 season.
Partnership includes three live games per week, NBA All Star Game, First and Second Round NBA Playoff coverage, Western Conference Finals, and NBA Finals.
The NBA and ESPN have reached an agreement for television coverage of the remainder of the 2012-13 season in the UK and Ireland. ESPN will begin its coverage of the season on Thursday and will bring fans in the UK and Ireland three live games per week throughout the regular-season, plus the NBA All-Star Game, First and Second Round NBA Playoff coverage, the Western Conference Finals, and the NBA Finals.
“Through our continued partnership with ESPN, fans in the UK and Ireland can look forward to weekly games and an array of NBA programming for the remainder of the 2012-13 NBA Season,” said Dan Markham, Vice President, Media Distribution & Emerging Markets.
In the first week of coverage, ESPN will feature some of the top teams and stars from around the league, including multiple members of the USA Basketball Men’s National Team that won gold at London 2012.
NBA SCHEDULE – DECEMBER 6-12 – ON ESPN
Day and Date Time (GMT) Matchup
Thursday 6h Dec. 1 a.m.*. New York Knicks @ Miami Heat
Friday 7th Dec. 2:30 a.m. LA Lakers @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Monday 10th Dec. 1 a.m. San Antonio Spurs @ Houston Rockets
Tuesday 11th Dec. Midnight New York Knicks @ Brooklyn Nets
Thursday 12th Dec. 1 a.m. Dallas Mavericks @ Boston Celtics
*morning of Friday, December 7th.
This season, the UK is represented by nine-year veteran and NBA All-Star Luol Deng (Chicago Bulls) and rookie Joel Freeland (Portland Trailblazers) as part of the league’s 84 international players from 37 countries.
Accompanying ESPN’s live coverage this season will be ESPN produced studio shows NBA Tonight and NBA Countdown, providing round-ups of all the action from around the league.