NBA outdoor games

Last updated

Only four National Basketball Association (NBA) games have ever been played outdoors. The first outdoor game was played between the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks on September 24, 1972 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium, a baseball park in San Juan, Puerto Rico, during that year's preseason. The Suns defeated the Bucks, 116–103. [1]

The NBA did not schedule another outdoor game after that, citing weather as a major obstacle. [2] However, in 2008, the Phoenix Suns planned to play a preseason game outdoors at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. The idea reportedly came from Suns part-owner Dick Heckmann, who presented it to Suns president and CEO Rick Welts. [3] The game was played at the tennis arena on October 11, 2008, between the Suns and the Denver Nuggets. Both teams, affected by low temperature (around 64 °F or 18 °C) and high wind (at 15 miles per hour or 24 kilometres per hour), struggled from the field as they shot below 40 percent and hit only 3 out of 27 from the three-point line. Key players, including Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson, and Amar'e Stoudemire, missed the game due to injury. In the end, the Nuggets defeated the Suns, 77–72. [1]

Due to the success of the 2008 game, the Suns decided to schedule more outdoor games in upcoming preseasons. On October 10, 2009, the Suns met the Golden State Warriors at Indian Wells. Due to poor weather, both teams struggled to find the basket as they shot just above 40 percent. Warriors' Anthony Morrow had the game high 30 points, while Channing Frye led the Suns with 16 points. The Warriors won the game 104–101. [4]

A third game at Indian Wells was played on October 9, 2010, between the Suns and the Dallas Mavericks. [5] Unlike the previous games, the weather was warm and windless. The Suns won for the first time, defeating the Mavericks 98–90. Five Suns players scored in double figures; Grant Hill led with 16. J. J. Barea had 13 to lead the Mavericks. [6]

All modern outdoor games were televised on TNT. The WNBA has had one regular season game played outside, the Liberty Outdoor Classic, held at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, New York on July 19, 2008.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dallas Mavericks</span> National Basketball Association team in Dallas

The Dallas Mavericks are an American professional basketball team based in Dallas. The Mavericks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference. The team plays its home games at the American Airlines Center, which it shares with the National Hockey League's Dallas Stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phoenix Suns</span> National Basketball Association team in Phoenix, Arizona

The Phoenix Suns are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. They are the only team in their division not to be based in California. The Suns play their home games at the Footprint Center. The Suns are one of three major league sports teams based in the Phoenix area, but are the only one to bill themselves as representing the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Kidd</span> American basketball player and coach (born 1973)

Jason Frederick Kidd is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards of all time, Kidd was a 10-time NBA All-Star, a six-time All-NBA Team member, and a nine-time NBA All-Defensive Team member. He won an NBA championship in 2011 as a member of the Dallas Mavericks and was a two-time gold medal winner in the Olympics with the U.S. national team in 2000 and 2008. He was inducted as a player into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In October 2021, Kidd was honored as one of the league's greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monta Ellis</span> American basketball player (born 1985)

Monta Jerome Ellis is an American former professional basketball player. Ellis attended Lanier High School in Jackson, Mississippi, where he was a McDonald's All-American and first-team Parade All-American. He entered the NBA directly out of high school, being drafted with the 40th overall pick by the Golden State Warriors in the 2005 NBA draft. In 2007, he was named the NBA Most Improved Player. During his time with the Warriors, Ellis was one of the best scorers in the league, averaging close to 25 points per game on two occasions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Lee (basketball)</span> American basketball player (born 1983)

David Lee is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Florida Gators before he was drafted 30th overall by the New York Knicks in the 2005 NBA draft. He was a 2-time NBA All-Star and was selected to the All-NBA Third Team in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian Wells Tennis Garden</span> Tennis facility near Palm Springs, California

The Indian Wells Tennis Garden is a tennis facility in Indian Wells, near Palm Springs, California, in the Coachella Valley. The 16,100-capacity Stadium 1 is the largest stadium at the tennis complex, and the second largest outdoor tennis stadium in the world.

The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas, US, belonging to the National Basketball Association (NBA). In their history, the Mavericks have won one NBA championship, five division titles, and three conference championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avery Johnson</span> American basketball player and coach

Avery DeWitt Johnson is an American basketball television commentator and former player and coach who most recently served as head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team. He is currently an NBA and college basketball analyst for CBS Sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devin Harris</span> American basketball player (born 1983)

Devin Lamar Harris is an American sports analyst and former professional basketball player. He played for 15 seasons, mostly with the Dallas Mavericks and New Jersey Nets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeAndre Jordan</span> American basketball player (born 1988)

Hyland DeAndre Jordan Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played one season of college basketball for the Texas A&M Aggies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JaVale McGee</span> American basketball player (born 1988)

JaVale Lindy McGee is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Nevada Wolf Pack and was selected 18th overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2008 NBA draft. McGee is a three-time NBA champion, having won consecutive titles with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018 before winning a third title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. The son of Olympic gold medalist Pamela McGee, he won a gold medal with the 2020 U.S. Olympic team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harrison Barnes</span> American basketball player (born 1992)

Harrison Bryce Jordan Barnes is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels before being selected by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 2012 NBA draft with the seventh overall pick. Barnes won an NBA championship with the Warriors in 2015. He also won a gold medal as a member of the 2016 U.S. Olympic team.

The 2011–12 Dallas Mavericks season was the 32nd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Mavericks entered the season as the defending NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in six games in the 2011 NBA Finals. They were attempting to win back-to-back NBA Finals, but were swept in the first round of the NBA Playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder in four games. The Thunder would go on to lose to the Heat in the Finals in five games.

The 2012–13 Dallas Mavericks season was the 33rd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Mavericks failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2000. This would also be the last time until 2017 that the Mavericks missed the playoffs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willie Cauley-Stein</span> American basketball player (born 1993)

Willie Trill Cauley-Stein is an American professional basketball player who last played for Openjobmetis Varese of the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). He played college basketball with the Kentucky Wildcats.

The 2014–15 Chicago Bulls season was the franchise's 49th season in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and fifth under head coach Tom Thibodeau. In the off-season, the Bulls let Carlos Boozer go and signed Pau Gasol. Chicago had its first 50-win season since the 2011–12 season with a record of 50–32. Seeded number three in the playoffs, the Bulls met the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round and defeated them, 4–2. However, Chicago's season ended with a 2–4 loss to the eventual Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers in the Conference semifinals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwight Powell</span> Canadian basketball player (born 1991)

Dwight Harlan Powell is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Stanford Cardinal and is a member of the Canadian national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorian Finney-Smith</span> American basketball player (born 1993)

Dorian Lawrence Finney-Smith is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Virginia Tech and Florida. After spending his first seven seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, he was traded to the Nets in February 2023.

The 2019–20 Dallas Mavericks season was the 40th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). This was the first season since 1997–1998 in which Dirk Nowitzki was not on the Mavericks roster as he retired in 2019. Nowitzki spent his entire 21-year career with the Mavericks, setting an NBA record.

The 2021–22 Dallas Mavericks season was the 42nd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). For the first time since 2007–08, Rick Carlisle would not be the head coach of the Mavericks, as he announced his departure from the team on June 17, 2021. It was the first season since 2004–05 without long-time general manager Donnie Nelson, as he announced his departure from the team on June 17, 2021, a day prior to Rick Carlisle's mutual parting with the Mavs. Carlisle and Nelson were part of the Mavs' 2010–11 championship squad, with Nelson being part of the 2005–06 team that made the Finals that year. On June 28, 2021, the Mavericks hired former player and championship member Jason Kidd as their new head coach.

References

  1. 1 2 Stein, Marc (October 12, 2008). "NBA takes game outdoors, and thrills turn to chills". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  2. ↑ Stein, Marc (December 5, 2003). "No great outdoor NBA games". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Indian Wells could host Suns preseason game come fall". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. January 25, 2008. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Warriors beat Suns in outdoor exhibition". MSNBC.com. NBC Universal. October 10, 2009. Archived from the original on January 24, 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Mavs, Suns to play outdoors in October". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. April 1, 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Suns beat Mavs in outdoor game at Indian Wells". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on October 13, 2010. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.