LONDON, Oct. 19, 2018 – The 2018-19 NBA regular season will feature a record 42 games in primetime in Europe as part of the league’s NBA Saturdays and NBA Sundays weekend primetime initiative. For the third consecutive year, NBA 2K returns as the presenting partner of NBA Sundays, with the first NBA Sundays presented by NBA 2K19 game scheduled for October 21 when the Cleveland Cavaliers host the Atlanta Hawks live on Sky Sports Arena.
Below are facts and figures pertaining to the NBA primetime games in Europe:
2,064 Minutes of NBA action in primetime in Europe for the 2018-19 season (not including any overtime!)
73 The NBA’s 73rd season tipped off on Tuesday, October 16
71 Teams taking part in primetime games in Europe this season have won a combined 71 titles, with the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles leading the way with 17 and 16 titles respectively
65 Based on opening-night rosters, a total of 65 European players will play in primetime games this season, a record
42 A record 42 games will be broadcast in primetime in Europe this season as part of the NBA Saturdays and NBA Sundays presented by NBA 2K19 campaign
30 All 30 NBA teams will feature in a primetime game in Europe this season
12 Fans will see a total of 12 No. 1 Draft picks playing in primetime games in Europe this season:
Deandre Ayton (Phoenix Suns: 2018); Markelle Fultz (Philadelphia 76ers: 2017); Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers: 2016); Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves: 2015); Andrew Wiggins (Minnesota Timberwolves: 2014); Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans: 2012); Kyrie Irving (Boston Celtics: 2011); John Wall (Washington Wizards: 2010); Blake Griffin (Detroit Pistons: 2009); Derrick Rose (Minnesota Timberwolves: 2008); Dwight Howard (Washington Wizards: 2004); LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers: 2003) *denotes current teams
9 The NBA London Game 2019 presented by Norwegian featuring the Washington Wizards and New York Knicks on Thursday, January 17 at The O2 will be the NBA’s ninth regular-season game in London and tips-off at 21.00 CET
7 A total of seven former MVP’s are playing in primetime games in Europe this season:
James Harden (2018); Russell Westbrook (2017); Stephen Curry (2015, 2016); Kevin Durant (2014); LeBron James (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013); Derrick Rose (2011); Dirk Nowitzki (2007)
7 The Milwaukee Bucks will feature in seven primetime games in Europe this season, the most of any team in the NBA
5 This is the fifth season of the NBA Sundays primetime initiative in Europe
4 The number of times LeBron James and his new team the Los Angeles Lakers will appear in primetime games in Europe this season
During the 2018-19 NBA season, fans in the UK can watch more than 170 live games exclusively on Sky Sports.
‘NBA Sundays presented by NBA 2K19’ on Sky Sports– part of a record 42 Primetime games live on Sky Sports starting from 8.30pm every weekend. This week on 21 October the Cleveland Cavaliers host the Atlanta Hawks on Sky Sports Arena from 11pm.
For more information, fans can visit Sky Sports.com/nba, Facebook.com/nbauk, follow @NBAUK on Twitter and @NBAEurope on Instagram. Fans can download the NBA App for news, updates, scores, stats and videos and can download the new ‘e-calendar’ direct to their phones with full broadcast tune-in information here.
