Cavaliers open Spain training camp ahead of public Málaga scrimmage

The Cleveland Cavaliers have begun their training camp in Spain, with James Harden offering an encouraging early assessment of newcomers Mario Hezonja and Peyton Watson.

Speaking to reporters at The Embassy in the Málaga area, Harden praised both players’ work as Cleveland brings its roster together, in comments reported by Jorge Cabrera on September 30. Hezonja said he was prepared to contribute wherever coach Kenny Atkinson and his teammates needed him.

Four days of work, then a public scrimmage

The Embassy’s published itinerary has the Cavaliers training at its Fuengirola facility from September 30 through October 3. The venue says this is the first NBA training camp held in Spain.

The trip’s public event follows on Sunday, October 4: a noon CEST (6 a.m. EDT in Cleveland) scrimmage at Málaga’s Palacio de Deportes José María Martín Carpena. Organizers plan to distribute 10,000 tickets to young players through local clubs and academies.

The Embassy is coordinating the event with Málaga City Council, the provincial council and the local delegation of the Andalusian Basketball Federation. The announced ticket distribution runs through participating local organizations; calling it a public scrimmage does not mean admission is available at the door.

A familiar connection behind the venue

Cavaliers assistant general manager José Calderón helped design The Embassy with former Spanish national-team teammate Berni Rodríguez. The center includes two basketball courts, a gym and facilities for rehabilitation and recovery.

For Cleveland, the setting brings the opening practices and a community event into the same trip before the preseason games begin. Follow the NBA schedule for listed games and tipoff times; this Málaga event is a training-camp scrimmage.