Kori Ellis
12-13-2005, 02:45 AM
Spurs' camp in Paris next year
Web Posted: 12/13/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA121305.4D.spurs.europe.da1797c.html
Two months after visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands in a show of support for Tim Duncan, the Spurs have made plans to hold their next training camp in Tony Parker's homeland.
Two NBA sources said Monday the Spurs will spend their weeklong camp in Lyon, France, next season. They also will play a pair of exhibition games, including one on Oct. 8 in Paris against Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv, the reigning Euroleague champion.
The Spurs, who played a preseason game against Memphis in Paris before the 2002-03 season, agreed to return to France as part of NBA Europe Live presented by EA Sports. The joint initiative between the NBA and Euroleague Basketball will have four NBA teams visit seven cities in five European countries next fall.
The NBA is expected to make a formal announcement about the training-camp sites this week.
Because they had previously been to Paris, the Spurs initially requested to train in Moscow. League officials, however, thought France would be a better fit for the team because of Parker's popularity there.
The Spurs agreed to the change as a way to further enhance their already strong ties to France's professional league. The Los Angeles Clippers will instead hold camp in Moscow.
In addition to drafting Parker four years ago, the Spurs used last season's first-round pick on Ian Mahinmi, a 19-year-old, 6-foot-10 forward from France. Viktor Sanikidze, a 2004 second-round pick of the Spurs, also plays for Dijon in the French Pro A League, but is currently in San Antonio after undergoing surgery to clean up tendinitis in both of his knees.
While the Spurs are in Lyon, they will play ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne, one of France's top professional teams. Maccabi Tel Aviv beat the Toronto Raptors in a preseason game two months ago.
The Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns will join the Spurs and Clippers in Europe. The 76ers will train in Barcelona while the Suns will hold camp in Treviso, Italy, and play an exhibition game in Rome.
Philadelphia and Phoenix, whose coach, Mike D'Antoni, played and coached in Italy, also will join this season's Euroleague champion and runner-up in a four-team tournament in Cologne, Germany, on Oct. 10-11.
Web Posted: 12/13/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA121305.4D.spurs.europe.da1797c.html
Two months after visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands in a show of support for Tim Duncan, the Spurs have made plans to hold their next training camp in Tony Parker's homeland.
Two NBA sources said Monday the Spurs will spend their weeklong camp in Lyon, France, next season. They also will play a pair of exhibition games, including one on Oct. 8 in Paris against Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv, the reigning Euroleague champion.
The Spurs, who played a preseason game against Memphis in Paris before the 2002-03 season, agreed to return to France as part of NBA Europe Live presented by EA Sports. The joint initiative between the NBA and Euroleague Basketball will have four NBA teams visit seven cities in five European countries next fall.
The NBA is expected to make a formal announcement about the training-camp sites this week.
Because they had previously been to Paris, the Spurs initially requested to train in Moscow. League officials, however, thought France would be a better fit for the team because of Parker's popularity there.
The Spurs agreed to the change as a way to further enhance their already strong ties to France's professional league. The Los Angeles Clippers will instead hold camp in Moscow.
In addition to drafting Parker four years ago, the Spurs used last season's first-round pick on Ian Mahinmi, a 19-year-old, 6-foot-10 forward from France. Viktor Sanikidze, a 2004 second-round pick of the Spurs, also plays for Dijon in the French Pro A League, but is currently in San Antonio after undergoing surgery to clean up tendinitis in both of his knees.
While the Spurs are in Lyon, they will play ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne, one of France's top professional teams. Maccabi Tel Aviv beat the Toronto Raptors in a preseason game two months ago.
The Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns will join the Spurs and Clippers in Europe. The 76ers will train in Barcelona while the Suns will hold camp in Treviso, Italy, and play an exhibition game in Rome.
Philadelphia and Phoenix, whose coach, Mike D'Antoni, played and coached in Italy, also will join this season's Euroleague champion and runner-up in a four-team tournament in Cologne, Germany, on Oct. 10-11.