NBA Announce ‘Long-Term’ Partnership With Brazilian National Basketball League

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has agreed a commercial partnership with the Brazilian National Basketball League.

The agreement will see the NBA take over the league’s marketing, advertising and licensing deals.

Both parties hope the deal will boost the sport significantly in Brazil whilst enabling the NBA to continue its global expansion in the South American country.

The NBA and Brazil’s National Basketball League said the partnership has the “long-term goal of increasing the popularity of basketball in Brazil.”

They said the leagues will work together – with the support of the Brazilian basketball confederation – to “attract more fans and bring in new business … through marketing strategies that will focus on enriching the product of basketball.”

“The partnership can expand in the upcoming years to include new areas such as basketball operations and player development,” the local league said in a statement.

Financial details and the length of the contract weren’t made available, but both sides said it was a “long-term” agreement.

“Basketball is very popular in Brazil and one of the fastest-growing sports in the country,” said Arnon de Mello, the NBA’s managing director in Brazil.

“The NBA is very happy with this partnership. It allows us to dream bigger. We will help with the growth and the development of the sport.”

Brazil recently staged a high-profile NBA pre-season match between Lebron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat as part of the league’s global games.