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Silver: European expansion not likely in near future for NBA

MADRID (AP) Commissioner Adam Silver says it is ''premature'' to talk about an NBA expansion in Europe.

Silver says he doesn't think ''it's going to happen in the very near future'' but ''could happen one day.''

Silver spoke in Madrid on Wednesday, a day before the Boston Celtics play Real Madrid in NBA's Global Games tour.

The commissioner also said the NBA will not stop if the international basketball federation decides to go ahead with its plan to change its calendar and have games coinciding with the NBA season.

He said the NBA respects the international federation but stressed that ''we are unable to interrupt our schedule'' and ''cannot remove players from our season midway, so we will continue to play despite their new schedule.''