NBA Announces Celtics Will Play Olimpia Milano In Italy This Preseason
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Boston Celtics will spend part of their preseason overseas this year, as the NBA announced they will play the three-time Euroleague champion Olimpia Milano in Italy.
As part of NBA Global Games 2015, the Celtics are set to take on Milano at the Mediolanum Forum in Milan on October 6.
"On behalf of the Celtics organization, we are proud to return to Milan for NBA Global Games 2015. I have particularly fond memories of playing in Europe almost 30 years ago, and I am sure our current players will relish this unique opportunity," Celtics president of basketball ops Danny Ainge said in the release to announce the game.
Celtics guard Avery Bradley is excited for such an opportunity.
"It is an honor to represent the Celtics and the NBA in Milan. I know there are passionate NBA fans in Italy and we look forward to an electric atmosphere on game night," he said in the release.
"We are thrilled to bring one of the NBA's most storied franchises to Milan to compete against Olimpia Milano on their home court," said NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
The trip will be a bit of a homecoming for Celtics forward Luigi Datome, who was born in Montebelluna (just over three hours from Milan) and enjoyed a 10-year career in Lega Basket Serie A -- the premier level of Italian Pro Basketball -- before joining the NBA in 2013.
This will be the Celtics' seventh game in Europe and second contest in Milan, having previously played in 2012.
This will not be Boston's only trip out of the country this season. They will also play the Sacramento Kings in Mexico City on December 3, in addition to their annual trips to Toronto.