The London O2 Arena will host Europe's first ever regular season NBA game this weekend between the Raptors and Nets.
Raptors and Nets face-off in London
The London O2 Arena will host Europe's first ever regular season NBA game, as the league does its bit to help Great Britain's bid to play in the London Olympics.
World governing body FIBA are to make a decision on whether Britain has met its targets to take up the spot traditionally reserved for the host nation.
With just two weeks remaining until their March 13th deadline, this weekend's games could not be better timed in terms of boosting basketball's profile in this country.
NBA commissioner David Stern believes the British team should be allowed to play next summer, and is delivering on a long-held promise to bring regular season action to this country to help the cause.
This comes in the form of two games between the Toronto Raptors and the New Jersey Nets, who although aren't the most glamorous of teams, contain a number of big-name individuals on their roster who will return next summer with their respective national squads.
Of these players expected back are American Brook Lopez, Italy's Andrea Bargnani, Spain's Jose Calderon, Lithuania's Linas Kleiza and Brazil's Leandro Barbosa.
Calderon, the Toronto guard, was part of the Spain team that won silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and he already has one eye on next year.
"I'm very excited about this trip," he said. "These are two important games for us, and games have never been played in Europe before, so it will be nice to be close to home.
"It would be great for me to be back here in the finals (next year). The 2008
Olympics was the best experience. We've got a good team and it would be great to get back but we've got to qualify first."
Improvements
FIBA has asked Britain to show that, in addition to the huge improvements made in on-court performances by the national team, there are long-term plans in place to ensure the Olympics can leave a legacy for basketball in this country.
The NBA is hoping games like these - as well as the newly announced women's regular-season game and further NBA pre-season game to be played in Manchester - can be a part of that.
"This comprehensive schedule of premier basketball events will help grow the sport for years to come," said NBA Europe senior vice president Sophie Goldschmidt earlier this week.
"This partnership shows our ongoing commitment to deepen basketball's footprint in the country."
