The Cleveland Cavaliers are set to be part of the NBA's effort to connect globally with fans this fall when they travel to Brazil to take on the Miami Heat in an exhibition game.
Scheduled for Oct. 11, the game between the Cavs and the Heat will be played at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, and the contest will give Cleveland center Anderson Varejão his first chance to compete in an NBA game in in his native country.
"We're looking forward to the game in front of the great Brazilian fans," said Cavs head coach Mike Brown said in a statement provided by the Cavaliers. "The trip also provides a great opportunity for our team to experience something special together as a group along with some of our key partners and stakeholders that are part of our Cavaliers family. We're very proud to represent Cleveland on an international stage like this and it's rewarding to be part of the NBA's global reach and excitement."
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Five global games have been scheduled so far -- all in the preseason -- with the NBA also indicating an intention to play regular season games overseas. Those will be announced at a later date according to the league.
"As the passion for the game continues to grow globally we are focused on finding unique and meaningful ways to connect with fans worldwide, and the NBA Global Games are part of those efforts," first-year NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a release. "Basketball brings people together across cultural and geographic lines, and these games are a great opportunity for our fans to experience the excitement of the NBA first-hand."
Also taking part in the overseas showcases in October will be the San Antonio Spurs, who are scheduled to play powerhouse clubs from Germany and Turkey in those respective countries, and the Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings, who will face each other in a pair of games in China.
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