Despite their up-and-down fortunes in recent seasons, the Boston Celtics remain a popular team worldwide — and international audiences will get to see the Green up close in 2015.
The Celtics will play decorated Italian club Olimpia Milano in a preseason matchup Oct. 6 in Milan, the NBA jointly announced Wednesday with Euroleague Basketball and RCS Sport. The exhibition will be part of the NBA Global Games Europe 2015 initiative.
This is the second international game for the Celtics confirmed thus far. They also will play a regular-season game against the Sacramento Kings in Mexico City on Dec. 3. The Milan exhibition previously had been reported by the Boston Herald, along with a game in Madrid against a local team.
“It is an honor to represent the Celtics and the NBA in Milan,” Celtics guard Avery Bradley said in a statement. “I know there are passionate NBA fans in Italy and we look forward to an electric atmosphere on game night.”
Olimpia Milano has its own proud history to match the Celtics’, with 26 Italian League championships and three Euroleague titles. Former Celtics guard MarShon Brooks currently is a member of Olimpia Milano’s roster.
This will be the Celtics’ seventh game in Europe and second in Milan, but their first since 2012, according to the team.
Thumbnail photo via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images
