ENG - Celtics, NBA give thumbs-up to London

LONDON (NBA) - London can expect to see plenty more of the NBA in the near future after making a big impression on players and officials in the last few days.

The O2 Arena played host to a pre-season exhibition game between the Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night, and as the teams headed for the airport, they were full of praise for the British capital.

"The fans were great, it was very loud and they were cheering for both teams," said Minnesota's Ryan Gomes. "I'm sure the NBA will have more events here. We've had a great time."

A sell-out crowd watched Boston win 92-81 as recent acquisition Ray Allen, who lived in the UK for a spell during his childhood, poured in 28 points for the Celtics.

Allen walked away amazed by the atmosphere inside the O2.

"I said down on the bench, 'This is the NBA right here'," he said. "Everything you have in the NBA we had here."

The experience left Allen believing in the idea of one day launching European NBA franchises, with London a strong candidate to host one.

"You can have an NBA team right here in this building - it can accommodate it," he said. "I don't know if it would happen during my career but I would relish it."

NBA commissioner David Stern was equally impressed by the O2, describing the facility as "absolutely extraordinary" and predicting it would prompt a wave of similar constructions across Europe.

"What the O2 does is it provides the opportunity for authentic NBA or NHL experience which European fans have not had before," Stern said.

Stern, who has floated the idea of European franchises, said the first step would be to have regular-season games in Europe. Another possibility would be to host the All-Star Game in a facility like the O2.

"It is a thought that has crossed through our minds," he said of moving the All-Star event overseas. "It would require a lot in terms of our own season, changes to the format, and you don't want to take away from the primary competition."

In whatever form NBA action returns to London, the players could be back even sooner, having moved London to the top of their list for future holidays.

"We've got to come here with our teammates for basketball, but I think I would like to bring my family here now and experience it all," Allen said. "It's a different culture and we've taken to it and embraced it."

Ian Parker, London
FIBA