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It was the first time in the modern era that a NBA game has been played outdoors.  Yet it wasn’t the 16,000+ sold out crowd, or the open air Indian Wells Tennis Garden in the backdrop of the California desert, or the trio of Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller, and Marv Albert commentating a preseason game pitting the Phoenix Suns against the Denver Nuggets that made this event unique.  It was watching professional basketball players like Nash, Shaq, K. Mart, and JR. Smith try to make shots while dealing with the 64 degree weather and 15mph gusts of wind that made the game unlike one I’ve ever seen.  Though low scoring due to the elements, the game was a joy to watch especially with finesse moves like this one by one of my favorite point guards, former Dallas Maverick, Steve Nash:

The NBA will be looking to do more outdoor games in the future, along with holding more events in countries like England and China, to further promote basketball to reach different audiences.  Dallas Maverick owner, Mark Cuban, had this to say about outdoor NBA basketball:

“I’ve been trying to get permission to do a late-September charity tour for years,” Cuban said. “I think it would be great PR and fun to take several teams and play a tour of outdoor football arenas in non-NBA cities to build the popularity of the game. As successful as we’ve been in building the popularity of the game around the world, the same efforts across the country would benefit the NBA as much, if not more. How much fun would it be to play in front of 50,000 to 100,000 people and build marketing momentum leading into the season? Hopefully the Phoenix game will be a first step.”

Read more on ESPN

Although a lot of people left in the 4th quarter because they couldn’t stand the cold, we beared through it to see the Nuggets win 77-72.  I can’t wait for the regular season to start.  This is going to be a great NBA season!