The National Basketball Association brings the best of the game of basketball to fans all around the globe. Not only are NBA games televised all over the world through 128 broadcasters to 205 countries in 42 different languages, preseason and regular season games are often staged outside North America.

The league recently tipped off the 1999-2000 NBA calendar with a full slate of international competitions. The global journey started on October 11 with a preseason matchup in Tel Aviv, Israel between the Miami Heat and Israeli champion Maccabi Tel Aviv. A few days later, the reigning NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs faced five other club champions from around the world in the 1999 McDonald's Championship, a three-day international basketball competition held every other year. On October 24, the Golden State Warriors met the New Jersey Nets at NBA Mexico '99, marking the seventh meeting of two NBA teams in Mexico this decade. Finally, the NBA wrapped up its international competitions in November when the league returned to Japan for the fifth time since 1990 with two regular season games between the Sacramento Kings and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

1999 NBA JAPAN GAMES

More than 60,000 fans attended the 1999 NBA Japan Games, featuring the Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings. Each team tipped off the season with a victory when the Sacramento Kings won the first game 100-95 on November 6 and the Minnesota Timberwolves came back with a vengeance, winning the second game 114-101 on November 7.

The two matches were broadcast to a record 131 countries throughout the world in 13 languages. The number of countries televising the games was far and away the largest for the fifth edition of the NBA Japan Games, which began in 1990 and have since been staged in 1992, 1994 and 1996 prior to this season.

TNT Sports from the United States, TBS Japan and Videoland Taiwan all originated live, on-site game coverage from the Tokyo Dome for at least one of the two NBA Japan Games, with NBA Entertainment and ESPN Asia providing coverage to the rest of the worldwide audience. Telecasters provided game coverage in English, Japanese, Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Malaysia, Cantonese, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog and Thai.

In 1990, the NBA became the first American professional sports league to stage regular season games outside of North America when the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz opened the 1990-91 season with two games in Tokyo Metropolitan Gym. Before moving to the Tokyo Dome in 1996, the first games were played in a smaller Tokyo venue in 1992, and the city of Yokohama hosted the 1992 and 1994 games.

ALL-TIME NBA JAPAN GAMES RESULTS

DATES	TEAMS	SCORE	SITE
11/3/90	Phoenix Suns Utah Jazz	119 96	Tokyo Metropolitan Gym, Japan Attendance: 10, 111
11/4/90	Utah Jazz Phoenix Suns	102 101	Tokyo Metropolitan Gym, Japan Attendance: 10, 111
11/7/92	Seattle SuperSonics Houston Rockets	111 94	Yokohama Arena Attendance: 14, 544
11/8/92	Seattle SuperSonics Houston Rockets	89 85	Yokohama Arena Attendance: 14, 544
11/5/94	Portland Trailblazers Los Angeles Clippers	121 100	Yokohama Arena Attendance: 14, 239
11/6/94	Portland Trailblazers Los Angeles Clippers	112 95	Yokohama Arena Attendance: 14, 239
11/7/96	Orlando Magic New Jersey Nets	108 95	Tokyo Dome Attendance: 38, 639
11/9/96	Orlando Magic New Jersey Nets	86 82	Tokyo Dome Attendance: 38, 639
11/6/99	Sacramento Kings Minnesota T- wolves	100 95	Tokyo Dome Attendance: 32, 623
11/7/99	Minnesota T-wolves Sacramento Kings	114 101	Tokyo Dome Attendance: 34, 013

NBA MEXICO '99

The NBA returned to Mexico this year for the seventh time in 10 years for a preseason matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the New Jersey Nets on October 24. Hot-shooting Antawn Jamison of the Warriors scored 17 of his 27 points in the first half of the 117-91 victory over the Nets at Mexico City's Palacio de los Deportes.

With the popularity of basketball growing in Mexico, the NBA has played exhibition games every year starting in 1992 until 1996. In 1997, the NBA brought live, regular season action when the Houston Rockets defeated the Dallas Mavericks 108-106 on December 6. The fans responded by packing the stadium - the capacity crowd of 20,635 - marked an all-time record attendance for a basketball game in Mexico.

1992 (Preseason)	Dallas 104 - Houston 102
1993 (Preseason)	New York 103 - Houston 93
1994 (Preseason)	San Antonio 121- Houston 112 Seattle 133 - Clippers 105 Houston 111 - Clippers 103 Seattle 124 - San Antonio 95 Seattle wins tournament.
1995 (Preseason)	San Antonio 125 - Washington 107 Detroit 110 - Washington 99
1996 (Preseason)	Dallas 107 - Utah 102 Cleveland 104 - Phoenix 92 Utah 111 - Phoenix 105 Dallas 88 - Cleveland 86
1997 (Regular)	Houston 108 - Dallas 106
1999 (Preseason)	Golden State Warriors 117- New Jersey Nets 91

1999 McDONALD'S CHAMPIONSHIP

The San Antonio Spurs truly became world champions after winning the 1999 McDonald's Championship in Milan, Italy. The event is a three-day competition featuring the reigning NBA Champion and five other club champions from around the world.

For the first time in the event's history, an Asian club champion took part in the competition. At Milan's FilaForum, the following teams challenged the Spurs for the McDonald's trophy:

Asian Basketball Confederation Champions -- C.S. Sagesse of Lebanon
South American Champions -- Vasco da Gama
EuroLeague Champions -- Zalgiris Kaunas
Australian National Basketball League Champions -- Adelaide 36ers
Italian Lega A Champions -- Varese Roosters

The Spurs generated worldwide publicity during their first trip overseas. More than 600 media from 38 countries attended the 1999 McDonald's Championship. American SuperBasket - a leading basketball publication in Italy - featured Tim Duncan and David Robinson on its cover under the headline "Twin Towers Take on the World."

Several Spurs players, as well as the WNBA's Cynthia Cooper and Tina Thompson, teammates from the three-time WNBA Champion Houston Rockets, made special appearances throughout Milan. Mario Elie and Thompson met with fans at a local Champion store one afternoon, several Spurs players signed autographs for hundreds of young fans at McDonald's Galleria next to the Duomo, and Tim Duncan and David Robinson spoke to hundreds of journalists. The NBA Champions definitely left their mark on Milan while they won the McDonald's Championship against formidable competition.

1999 McDonald's Championship Results

10/14/99	Vasco da Gama 90 - Adelaide 36ers 79 (6,762) (49-37 at the half) C.S Sagesse 88 - Varese Roosters 98 (49-52 at the half)
10/15/99	Zalgiris Kaunas 86 - Vasco da Gama 92 (10,122) (40-36 at the half) San Antonio Spurs 96 - Varese Roosters 86 (42-49 at the half)
10/16/99	C.S Sagesse 84 - Adelaide 36ers 91 (34-48 at the half) Zalgiris Kaunas 97 - Varese Roosters 78 (49-43 at the half) San Antonio Spurs 103 - Vasco da Gama 68 (10,122) (56-36 at the half)

San Antonio wins the tournament.

Drazen Petrovic Trophy (MVP): Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs.

All-Tournament Team: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs; Avery Johnson, San Antonio Spurs; JosT Vargas, Vasco da Gama; Charles Byrd, Vasco da Gama; Gianmarco Pozzecco, Varese Roosters; Francesco Vescovi, Varese Roosters.

ALL-TIME McDONALD'S CHAMPIONSHIP RECORDS

1987 McDonald's Championship at the Mecca in Milwaukee

10/23/87	Milwaukee Bucks 123 - Tracer Milan 111 (10,221) (64-44 at the half)
10/24/87	Soviet National Team 135 - Tracer Milan 108 (7,808) (63-45 at the half)
10/25/87	Milwaukee Bucks 127 - Soviet National Team 100 (11,052) (67-36 at the half)

Milwaukee wins the tournament.

1988 McDonald's Championship at the Palacio de los Deportes in Madrid
(Starting in 1988, the tournament went to four teams.)

10/21/88	Real Madrid 108 - Scavolini Pesaro 96 (10,130) (49-51 at the half) Boston Celtics 113 - Yugoslavian National Team 85 (53-47 at the half)
10/23/88	Yugoslavian National Team 100 - Scavolini Pesaro 91 (10,130) (48-36 at the half) Boston Celtics 111 - Real Madrid 96 (61-47 at the half)

Boston wins the tournament.

1989 McDonald's Championship at the Palaeur in Rome

10/20/89	Denver Nuggets 137 - Barcelona 103 (7,818) (69-40 at the half) Jugoplastika Split 102 - Philips Milan 97 (48-48 at the half)
10/22/89	Philips Milan 136 - Barcelona 104 (11,635) (63-45 at the half) Denver Nuggets 135 - Jugoplastika Split 129 (64-63 at the half)

Denver wins the tournament.

1990 McDonald's Championship at the Palau San Jordi in Barcelona

10/11/90	Pop 84 Split 102 - Barcelona 97 (17,000) (50-48 at the half) New York Knicks 119 - Scavolini Pesaro 115 (OT) (55-46 at the half)
10/13/90	Barcelona 106 - Scavolini Pesaro 105 (16,000) (58-59 at the half) New York Knicks 117 - Pop 84 Split 101 (52-40 at the half)

New York wins the tournament.

1991 McDonald's Championship at the Palais Omnisports de Bercy Arena, Paris

10/18/91	Joventut Badalona 117 - SD Split 86 (14,133) (53-45 at the half) Los Angeles Lakers 132 - Limoges 101 (67-49 at the half)
10/19/91	Limoges 105 - SD Split 91 (14,916) (52-46 at the half) Los Angeles Lakers 116 - Joventut Badalona 114 (69-61 at the half)

Los Angeles wins the tournament.

1993 McDonald's Championship at the Olympiahalle in Munich
(Starting in 1993, the tournament went to six teams, Phoenix and CSP Limoges received byes.)

10/21/93	Buckler Bologna 129 - All-Star Franca 88 (4,300) (68-41 at the half) Real Madrid 85 - Bayer Leverkusen 75 (42-45 at the half)
10/22/93	All-Star Franca 104 - Bayer Leverkusen 97 (10,600) (55-46 at the half) Phoenix Suns 145 - Real Madrid 115 (70-66 at the half) Buckler Bologna 101 - CSP Limoges 85 (50-46 at the half)
10/23/93	Real Madrid 123 - CSP Limoges 119 (11,300) (62-48 at the half) Phoenix Suns 112 - Buckler Bologna 90 (64-49 at the half)

Phoenix wins the tournament.

1995 McDonald's Championship at London Arena Docklands, London
(Starting in 1993, the tournament went to six teams, Houston and Perth received byes: this was also the first time the defending NBA Champion participated.)

10/19/95	Buckler Bologna 112 - Maccabi Tel Aviv 103 (6,219) (58-57 at the half) Real Madrid Teka 99 - Sheffield Sharks 71 (41-29 at the half)
10/20/95	Buckler Bologna 102 - Real Madrid Teka 96 (10,053) (62-58 at the half) Houston Rockets 116 - Perth Wildcats 72 (51-42 at the half)
10/21/95	Maccabi Tel Aviv 107 - Sheffield Sharks 89 (10,708) (51-44 at the half) Perth Wildcats 93 - Real Madrid Teka 86 (41-39 at the half) Houston Rockets 126 - Buckler Bologna 112 (64-57 at the half)

Houston wins the tournament.

Drazen Petrovic Trophy (MVP): Clyde Drexler, Houston Rockets.

All-Tournament Team: Clyde Drexler, Sam Cassell, Robert Horry, Houston Rockets; Orlando Woolridge, Arijan Komazec, Buckler Bologna.

1997 McDonald's Championship at Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris
(Chicago and Olympiakos had byes for the first round.)

Chicago wins the tournament.

Drazen Petrovic Trophy (MVP): Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls.

All-Tournament Team: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls; Arturas Karnisovas, Dragan Tarlac, Olympiakos; Eric Struelens, PSG Racing; Fabricio Oberto, Atenas de Cordoba.

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1999 PRESEASON GAME IN ISRAEL

The Miami Heat, led by superstars Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway, made their first trip overseas for an NBA preseason game when they traveled to Tel Aviv, Israel, and defeated the perennial Israeli champions Maccabi Tel Aviv 129-91, on October 12 at Yad Eliyahu Arena.

This game initially was scheduled for last October but was the first casualty of the lockout that eventually shortened the 1998-99 season. Maccabi Tel Aviv is one of the better teams in Europe and often features American players but was no match for the bigger, quicker Heat.

Slithery guard Tim Hardaway had 21 points and nine assists and big men Alonzo Mourning and Mark Strickland also had an impact. Mourning, the Defensive Player of the Year, made 7-of-11 shots and scored 15 points. Strickland, a 6-9 reserve forward, was 9-of-11 and scored 19 points.

Mark Brisker, who has been invited to a handful of training camps but never has made an NBA team, led Maccabi with 19 points. Former DePaul star and NBA journeyman Dallas Comegys scored eight points. Maccabi also boasts a pair of Israelis who played at the University of Connecticut. Doron Sheffer scored 11 points and Nadov Henefeld added seven.

The 8,700 on hand at the Yad Eliyahu Arena saw Miami race to a 68-45 halftime lead and cruise home. The teams played under international rules, which features halves instead of quarters, a wider, trapezoidal lane and legal zone defenses.

The Heat visited the historic religious city of Jerusalem and made a handful of public appearances during their stay.

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EUROPE TOUR

1996: The NBA's Europe Tour '96 featured the Seattle SuperSonics and Indiana Pacers playing a pair of preseason games; one in Berlin, Germany on October 18 and the other in Seville, Spain on October 20. Popular German star Detlef Schrempf, who played in front of his home crowd, added to the excitement of the event. Both games were played in front of sell-out crowds and were shown live on television via DSF of Germany and Canal + of Spain. Schrempf, native Dutchman Rik Smits, Reggie Miller, and other players made public appearances during the tour to reach out to European fans.

10/16/97	Atenas de Cordoba 87 - Benetton 78 (8,244) (51-41 at the half) PSG Racing 97 - Barcelona 84 (55-42 at the half)
10/17/97	Olympiakos 89 - Atenas de Cordoba 86 (13,515) (49-42 at the half) Chicago Bulls 89 - PSG Racing 82 (42-29 at the half)
10/18/97	Benetton 106 - Barcelona 103 (13,515) (54-54 at the half) Atenas 88 - PSG Racing 78 (51-41 at the half) Chicago Bulls 104 - Olympiakos 78 (54-43 at the half)

10/18	Indiana 98 - Seattle 95 Att.: 10,127 Deutschlandhalle-Messe Berlin, Germany
10/20	Seattle 82 - Indiana 72 Att.: 9,066 Palacio de los Deportes Seville, Spain

1994: The NBA also staged a Europe Tour in October 1994. The Golden State Warriors and Charlotte Hornets played a game in Paris against each other, and then faced a European team in Barcelona and Bologna, respectively.

10/18	G.S. 132 - Char. 116 Att.: 15,324 Palais Omnisports Paris-Bercy, Paris
10/20	G.S. 122 - Badalona 104 Att.: 8,800 Pavello Olimpic de Badalona Barcelona, Spain
10/21	Char. 114 - Bologna 107 Att.: 9,067 Palasport di Casalecchio Bologna, Italy

1993: The Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic took their turn playing in front of a European audience as the featured teams for the 1993 London Games at a sold-out Wembley Arena.

10/30	Orlando 120 - Atlanta 95 Att.: 9,482
10/31	Atlanta 113 - Orlando 101 Att.: 9,482