Silver: Paris could host next season's European game

Commissioner Adam Silver believes the NBA's next foray overseas could include a new host nation.

Prior to the Washington Wizards' victory over the New York Knicks in London, Silver said the NBA's regular-season European showcase for the 2019-20 campaign will likely remain a one-off and could go to Paris, with the Bercy Arena as a likely candidate.

"We've played many exhibition games in Paris over the years," Silver told reporters, including ESPN's Mark Woods. "I remember being there with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. There was tremendous excitement around that team, and I think it will continue to be an important market.

"We took a number of years off because, of course, the arena was being renovated. I haven't yet been to the new Bercy Arena, but I hear it's fantastic. I'm looking forward to going back to Paris."

India will host its first NBA games in October when the Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings square off in a pair of preseason meetings. But Silver was less optimistic about the country's chances of hosting a regular-season game, considering the travel requirements.

With the results meaning nothing in the standings, Silver believes preseason contests in India and China provide opportunities to build in outreach activities.

"In a market like India, where we've never really played a preseason game, there isn't really an issue where people are saying to us, 'This has really got to be a (regular-season) fixture,'" Silver said. "They accept that this is a unique experience for two NBA teams to be making the trip.

"In China, it's essentially been the same. It's not that they wouldn't prefer that we come with regular-season games. There is recognition that we have a very long season and if we were to change the formula from preseason to regular season, it would significantly shorten the trips because there wouldn't be as much time on the ground."