WASHINGTON, March 25 (Xinhuanet) -- NBA Commissioner David Stern'snext plan is to launch the NBA matches in Europe in the future.

    During a 50-minute meeting with reporters and editors when he attended an Indiana Pacers game on Wednesday, Stern was optimisticabout NBA's future in Europe.

    "If you can schedule the Portland Trail Blazers in Orlando, youcan schedule the (Los Angeles) Lakers, who would not be flying from L.A. but from Boston, to do their European trip," Stern was quoted as saying Thursday by local papers.

    "Yes, I think we will see an NBA franchise in Europe someday and NBA-sanctioned leagues on other continents."

    The NBA has hired a firm to explore the possibilities, though Stern did not expect the expansion to happen within the next few seasons.

    For economic reasons, the NBA would target Western Europe for growth, Stern said.

    "Tony Parker was the athletes of the year in France on the basis of leading the San Antonio Spurs to a championship in a sport that isn't widely followed (there)," Stern said. "I think we're talking about some place among Spain, France, Italy, Germany and England (for potential expansion)." Enditem