The Detroit Pistons and Dallas Mavericks will play a regular season game in Mexico next season according to a recent press release from the league.
The game will take place on November 1st in Arena CDMX in Mexico City, though it has not yet been revealed which team is losing a home game.
The Pistons and Mavs have squared off south of the border before, back in 2019, but things have changed drastically for both teams since then.
Detroit has an entirely new team led by Cade Cunningham, swapping out the entire roster since Andre Drummond led them to Mexico six years ago.
You may have also heard that the Mavericks traded some guy called Luka Doncic to the Lakers, so Mexican fans won’t get a chance to see him live, at least not this season.
These types of games can be a catalyst for a team in a couple of ways.
The Detroit Pistons have a big opportunity in Mexico
Detroit will get a chance to showcase their exciting young team to an audience that probably isn’t exposed to Pistons’ games too often.
The Pistons play hard, love to run the fast break and dunk about as much as any team, so they will likely win over fans from Mexico, who don’t get many live games in the regular season.
The NBA has long expressed an interest in expanding to Mexico, which would be amazing, as fans in Mexico City are among the most passionate in the world.
These types of trips are also great for team building and chemistry, as the team will undoubtedly be spending plenty of time there as a group, both on the journey to and from Mexico City, but also likely exploring tourist sites and local culture.
It will be great for a young team, many of whom have not spent much time abroad, even if it is just a few hours south.
Here is what Pistons’ team president Trajan Langdon had to say about the opportunity:
“The Detroit Pistons organization is excited to be participating in The NBA Mexico City Game 2025 next season. Playing a regular-season game in Mexico City will be a great experience for our players and coaches, and we look forward to showcasing Detroit Basketball to an international audience and a passionate, growing NBA fanbase.”
The Pistons should be happy they were chosen to represent the NBA in Mexico, and it gives them a chance to not only expand their fanbase but is a growth opportunity for the players.