Tags: EA Sports, Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Xbox 360, NBA, NBA Europe Live, Nintendo Wii

EA and NBA Unite the Best in Real and Virtual Basketball on European Courts This Week

NBA Europe LIVE presented by EA SPORTS™ is bringing some of the world’s best basketball action to fans in Europe this week as EA and NBA unite for the second time. NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS began on October 1 and features the Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves in training camps and exhibition games against top Euroleague Basketball clubs in six cities across Turkey, Italy, Spain, and the UK. The first games of this year’s tour are on October 6 in both Istanbul and Rome.

As the presenting partner, EA SPORTS will also conduct a number of events around the launch of the popular new videogame NBA LIVE 08, which is available across Europe today on the Xbox 360™ video game system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems and the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable). Wii™ and PC versions of the game hit stores on October 19.

“NBA Europe Live is a fantastic platform for EA SPORTS and our partners at the NBA to share our passion for real and virtual basketball with fans and gamers across Europe,” said Matt Bilbey, Senior Director of International Marketing, EA SPORTS. “We’re pleased to continue to be ambassadors for NBA basketball and with the launch of NBA LIVE 08 in Europe today are excited for gamers to be able to celebrate the best basketball action on the virtual court.”

“Following the success of last year’s tour, we are pleased to have EA SPORTS with us again as the presenting sponsor of NBA Europe Live presented by EA SPORTS,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, Vice President of Marketing Partnerships & Business Development for NBA Europe. “Once again, this ambitious international competition continues to be a celebration of the game of basketball for fans throughout Europe – both on the court and with NBA LIVE.”