Off they go into the wild blue (red?) yonder. The Nets' round-the-world tour, with stops in the former Communist capitals of Moscow and Beijing, as well as Guangzhou, begins on Saturday and really doesn't end until they return from Boston on October 20. That's six stops, three countries, three continents...and roughly 17,500 miles.
Although there's no television coverage of Saturday's game vs. the 76ers, the rest of the Nets' preseason games will be broadcast on either YES, MSG or NBA TV. Plus you can expect a lot of news and video from Mikhail Prokhorov's Onexim Group, the Nets and the NBA this Sunday when the Nets arrive in Moscow. While the trip will be grueling, a preseason world tour is unprecedented. Also,once they arrive back in New Jersey on October 20, they'll have a week without any games and won't be on the road again until November 5.
October 9 - Nets vs. 76ers, Prudential Center, Newark, 1 p.m. ET; beginning of the Nets' round-the-world preseason tour. No TV in New Jersey/New York or New Jersey/Philadelphia.
October 10 - Nets' Open Practice (Moscow) and Basketball Clinic, CSKA Moscow Universal Sports Hall, Moscow, Russia, 10:30 a.m ET. Nets will also open a team store at the Moscow Adidas, and meet the boss, Mikhail Prokhorov, for the first time.
October 11 - Nets depart Moscow for Beijing.
October 13 - Nets vs. Rockets, Wukesong Arena, Beijing, China, 8 a.m. ET. Among other planned events: NBA Cares community events, player appearances and basketball clinics, Game live on NBA TV.
October 16 - Nets vs. Rockets, Guangzhou International Sport and Entertainment Center, Guangzhou, China, 7:30 a.m. ET. Nets and Rockets open China's newest arena. Game live on NBA TV.
October 17 - Nets depart Guangzhou for the trip across the Pacific and home.
October 19 - Nets vs. Knicks, Madison Square Garden, New York, 7:30 p.m. ET. Game live on MSG.
October 20 - Nets vs Celtics, TD North Center, Boston, 7:30 p.m. ET; end of the Nets round-the-world preseason tour. Game live on YES.
October 25 - Rosters set for NBA Opening Night, 6 p.m. ET. Teams must submit rosters of no more than 15 players to the league offices in New York.
October 26 - At least Ben Uzoh's and possibly Brian Zoubek's partially guaranteed contracts become fully guaranteed unless waived.
October 27 - Opening Night, Nets vs. Pistons, Prudential Center, Newark, 7 p.m. ET. First regular season NBA game in Newark. Game Live on YES.
November 1 - Deadline by which the Nets must decide to extend the rookie contracts of Brook Lopez and Terrence Williams.