McDonald's Championship

McDonald's Championship was an international professional basketball tournament which was hosted by the National Basketball Association (NBA). The tournament was held annually from 1987 to 1999, except in 1992 and 1998. The tournament was also known as the McDonald's Open.

History

The McDonald's Championship was created as a way to bring together top basketball teams from around the world. The tournament was sponsored by McDonald's, a global fast-food chain. The first tournament was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1987. The final tournament took place in Milan, Italy, in 1999.

Format

The tournament typically featured the reigning NBA champions and the top professional teams from Europe, South America, and Australia. The NBA team was always considered the home team, regardless of the location of the game. The tournament was single-elimination, with the winner of the tournament receiving the McDonald's Championship trophy.

Legacy

The McDonald's Championship is considered a precursor to the NBA's current global outreach efforts. The tournament helped to popularize the sport of basketball and the NBA brand in many parts of the world. Many international players who participated in the tournament later went on to have successful careers in the NBA.

See also

• List of McDonald's Championship winners
• NBA Global Games
• FIBA Intercontinental Cup

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