Utah Jazz: Across the pond, NBA Europe a great debate

LONDON — Friday night, the Utah Jazz open their NBA season against the Knicks in New York.

Saturday night, they face the Foghorns in London.

Flash forward a few years and that very well could be the news.

No plans have been announced. No new franchises have been awarded. No nickname contests are under way.

But the NBA has long discussed possible overseas expansion, and — with the Jazz actually playing a preseason game today against the Chicago Bulls at The O2 Arena in London, part of the league's annual EuropeLive tour — it's an issue forward and center on basketball brains.

"I think we're doing good in America," two-time U.S. Olympian Carlos Boozer of the Jazz said before practice Monday at O2, the very same venue that will host basketball during the 2012 Summer Games.

"But I think that's something (commissioner) David Stern and the NBA want to try to do," Boozer added, "is expand our league to two teams over in Europe — and I think London is probably one of the first places they would look at it, I'm sure."

Whether adding just one or two international clubs to a league already 30 strong across North America makes sense, however, is a matter for great debate.

But as far as many players, coaches and front-office personnel seem to be concerned, the argument is mostly one-sided.

"It would be exciting for all of us to come over here and play four, five games — not to come all the way to London and play one game or two games, and then fly back home," Boozer said. "If they have four or five teams in Europe that we can go around to, I think it would be exciting for guys."

"I could see where it could work, if you have a division over here with, whatever, five teams," Bulls general manager Gar Forman said.

"The travel would be tough, especially coming from the West (U.S.), but I could see it happening at some point."

Would it work well, though?

Would fans in London flock to see the imaginary Foghorns facing aging Allen Iverson and the struggling Memphis Grizzlies on a night Chelsea is playing Liverpool in a key Premier League game, and every pub owner in his right mind has the football match on his big-screen?

Would anyone in Spain — where Thursday the Jazz play an exhibition game against Spanish League power Real Madrid — interrupt a perfectly good siesta to watch the Matadors play the lowly Los Angeles Clippers?