Stern: NBA Wants China League, Presence in India

2008/08/19 16:15:11 @NBA.com: News

On ESPN.COM, the ASSOCIATED PRESS writes "the 1992 team -- with icons such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird -- introduced NBA basketball to the world stage. Sixteen years later, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have become China's darlings -- and the NBA is hoping capitalize on the basketball's popularity by investing millions in the sport's development in this sprawling nation. The league has plans for an NBA-affiliated league here, and Stern envisions league partnership in as many as 'eight or 10 or 12 arenas throughout China.' 'The world is embracing the sport that the Dream Teamers brought to Barcelona,' Stern said. 'And I would say the 2008 Olympics really demonstrate that complete embrace.' Stern said he never imagined the NBA/China relationship that began in 1985 would be as popular as it is at the Beijing Games.
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