Four NBA teams going to Europe in pre-season

The NBA will return to Europe for pre-season training camps and exhibition games, Commissioner David Stern said yesterday.

The Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves and Toronto Raptors are to travel to six cities as part of Europe Live 2007. Stern said the project, which began last year, was not a money-maker for the league.

"I would say it's a money break-even," he told reporters. "Although that's not the business we're in, we'd like to make a few dollars. It's much more important to enhance the experience, to allow our fans in Europe to know we're going to be there and engage in community relations."

Boston will train in Rome, Memphis in Malaga (Spain), Minnesota in Istanbul and Toronto in Treviso (Italy).

The Celtics and Timberwolves will play in the first basketball game in the O2, London's new NBA-style arena. In addition, the league will play its first game in Turkey.

Last year's pre-season foray into Europe was "a success" Stern said, drawing more than 36 million television viewers and 115,000 spectators.