There’s nothing like NBA basketball, but if you want to get your hoops fix somehow, there are some pro competitions underway around the world with a bunch of players you will recognize.
These are today’s contests in The Tournament, Israel, China and New Zealand.
THE TOURNAMENT
2:00 pm: Herd That vs. TMT (ESPN)
Players of NBA interest: Former 76er Tony Wroten, former Nets Willie Reed and Jacob Wiley, former Rockets Kyle Wiltjer and Nick Johnson, former Nugget Thomas Welsh
4:00 pm: Armored Athlete vs. Overseas Elite (ESPN)
Players of NBA interest: Seven-time All-Star Joe Johnson, former King Pooh Jeter, former Grizzly DJ Kennedy, former Celtic Jordan Crawford, former Laker Scott Machado, former Celtic Coty Clarke
ISRAEL
12:20 am: Maccabi Rishon vs. Hapoel Holon (Winner League TV)
Players of NBA interest: Draft prospect Noam Dovrat
2:10 pm: Hapoel Jerusalem vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv (Winner League TV)
Players of NBA interest: Draft prospect Deni Avdija, six-time All-Star Amare Stoudemire, former Hawk Othello Hunter, former Grizzly Jeremy Pargo, former Cavalier John Holland, former Nugget Emmanuel Terry
CHINA
3:30 am: Fujian Sturgeons vs. Tianjin Pioneers (Youku)
Players of NBA interest: Former Nugget Ty Lawson, Grizzlies draftee Wang Zhelin
4:00 am: Zhejiang Golden Bulls vs. Sichuan Blue Whales (Youku)
7:35 am: Beijing Royal Fighters vs. Guangzhou Loong Lions (Youku)
Players of NBA interest: Former 76er Arnett Moultrie, former Laker Sun Yue, former Timberwolf Marcus Georges-Hunt, head coach Stephon Marbury
8:00 am: Shandong Heroes vs. Zhejiang Guangsha Lions (Youku)
Players of NBA interest: Potential free agent target Hu Jinqiu
NEW ZEALAND
1:30 am: Taranaki Mountainairs vs. Nelson Giants (ESPN3)
Players of interest: New Zealand national team players Mike Karena and Derone Raukawa, former Oregon State forward Marcel Jones
3:30 am: Auckland Huskies vs. Canterbury Rams (ESPN3)
Players of interest: New Zealand national team player Tohi Smith-Milner