OKC face the 76ers in Manchester as part of European schedule.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will meet the Philadelphia 76ers in Manchester on 8 October, as the NBA embarks on a World Tour ahead of next season.
The pre-season schedule sees the likes of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Jrue Holiday cross the Atlantic, with the Thunder duo hoping to be coming off the back of a successful 2013 season.
It is the latest move from outgoing NBA Commissioner David Stern to further globalise the sport, following the success of the regular season game between the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons back in January at the O2 in London.
Oklahoma City open the proceedings by playing Turkish side Fenerbahce on 5 October in Istanbul, while the 76ers take on Uxue Bilbao in Spain a day later.
The league duo then face each other in Manchester in what is likely to be a sold-out even given the high-profile names on show.
However, the NBA tour isn’t limited to European shores, as the association takes its franchises across the globe.
The Houston Rockets and Indiana Pacers meet on 10 October in Manila, Philippines, and again on 13 October in Taipei, Taiwan.
They are joined in Asia by the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers who play on 15 October in Beijing, before meeting again three days later in Shanghai.
The other leg of the tour sees the Chicago Bulls play the Washington Wizards on 12 October in Rio de Janeiro.
Despite lacking the feel and intensity of a regular season game, the events across the continents are likely to further strengthen the league’s standing both financially and in the popularity stakes.
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