Cavs to play Nets in Paris next season

The Cavaliers have hit the big time. The NBA announced on Wednesday the Cavs will face the Brooklyn Nets in Paris on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at Accor Arena. This regular season matchup will mark Cleveland's first-ever game in Europe and third internationally in franchise history. The Cavs played preseason games in China in 2007 and Brazil in 2015. The full 2023-24 regular season schedule will be announced at a later date. "We are extremely honored as an organization to showcase the Cleveland Cavaliers in Paris," Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman said in a statement. "This unique opportunity will provide our players, coaches, staff and families an experience into a different culture, all while creating memories both on and off the court that will last a lifetime. "We also recognize the universal appeal basketball inspires and we take great pride in our stewardship of the game. As proud representatives of the city of Cleveland and all of Northeast Ohio, we look forward to establishing a personal level of engagement with our fans overseas, as well as partnering with the NBA in our collective effort to elevate basketball on the international stage." It will mark the NBA's third regular-season game in Paris, and second for the Nets. They played a preseason game in the French capital in 2008. "We're extremely excited to have the opportunity to compete in The NBA Paris Game 2024 and bring Nets basketball to an international stage," Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks said. "Our players and coaches will benefit greatly from the experience of immersing themselves in Paris's rich culture off the court." The game in Paris will air live on beIN SPORTS and NBA League Pass, which is expected to reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories on television, digital media and social media. "We're thrilled to be bringing the live NBA experience back to Paris with two exciting teams in the Brooklyn Nets and the Cleveland Cavaliers," NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum said. "This game has become a destination for our passionate fans across Europe and will build on the incredible momentum around basketball and the NBA in France and throughout the region." Tickets will go on sale at a later date. "The city of Paris is delighted to host another thrilling NBA regular-season game and extend a warm welcome to two remarkable teams, the Brooklyn Nets and the Cleveland Cavaliers," said Pierre Rabadan, deputy mayor of Paris in charge of sports, Olympic and Paralympic Games. "Our love and passion for the sport of basketball drive us to provide an unforgettable experience for players and fans alike. Paris has always been a special place for basketball and continues to be, as its rich culture steadily thrives and spreads within the city." Contact Bob Finnan at rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on Twitter.