Used for many years to host an NBA regular season game, the O2 Arena in London will this year host a university meeting. It will be December 4, for an XXL clash between Kentucky and Michigan.
Initially scheduled for December 2020, the meeting between the two historic NCAA programs had been postponed to a later date due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Two years later, it will finally take place in the English capital, to the great relief of the two coaches.
« When we announced this meeting a few years ago, we were excited to come up with something different » explained John Caliparithe coach of Kentucky, when his colleague Juwan Howard, coach of Michigan, spoke ” a once in a lifetime experience for his players. ” Our world has been devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic for the past two years, but I was still hopeful that we could play this game. Our fans have been waiting for this match for a long time, and I know they will come and support us in force. But it will also be an unforgettable experience for our players. concluded John Calipari.
Europe therefore offers itself a high quality university poster for the return of basketball to its lands. Regarding a potential return of the NBA, it will however be necessary to be patient.
Adam Silver indeed said last week that the NBA will not play any regular season games in Europe next season, while leaving the door open to the possibility of organizing pre-season matches there.