SAO PAULO - The NBA has reached a commercial partnership with Brazils top basketball league, taking over its marketing, advertising and licensing deals. Custom San Diego Padres Jerseys .The deal announced Thursday is expected to give a huge boost to the sport in Brazil and should help the NBA continue expanding its presence in the South American nation of more than 200 million people.The NBA and Brazils National Basketball League said the partnership has the long-term goal of increasing the popularity of basketball in Brazil.They said the leagues will work together — with the support of the Brazilian basketball confederation — to attract more fans and bring in new business ... through marketing strategies that will focus on enriching the product of basketball.Brazilian basketball officials said the partnership is the first of its kind for a sports league in Brazil.The partnership can expand in the upcoming years to include new areas such as basketball operations and player development, the local league said in a statement.Financial details of the deal were not immediately disclosed. The length of the contract also wasnt available, although both sides said it was a long-term agreement.Basketball is very popular in Brazil and one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, said Arnon de Mello, the NBAs managing director in Brazil. The NBA is very happy with this partnership. It allows us to dream bigger. We will help with the growth and the development of the sport.A few NBA executives were in Sao Paulo for the official announcement, which comes two months after the league was in Rio to host a high-profile preseason game between the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers of LeBron James. It was the second year in a row that the NBA was in the country. The Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards played in the first-ever NBA game in Brazil in 2013.The NBA has a significant number of fans in Brazil, to the point that its common for local tourism agencies to offer travel packages that include tickets for games in cities such as Orlando, Miami and New York. There are seven Brazilian players in the NBA this season, the most ever.The leagues increased presence in Brazil could help basketball stop losing ground to volleyball as the countrys most popular sport behind soccer. Auto racing and mixed martial arts are also popular sports in Brazil.___Follow Tales Azzoni at http://www.twitter.com/tazzoniPadres Jerseys China ." The game can be seen live on TSN starting with Monday Night Countdown at 6:30 p.m et/3:30 p.m. pt. The Patriots, who had a bye in Week 10, will look to continue the offensive success they had a week earlier when New England scored 55 points and racked up 610 yards of total offense in a 55-31 drubbing of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Padres Jerseys 2020 .C. -- The Carolina Panthers announced Thursday theyve signed free agent wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery to a two-year contract, helping rebuild a depleted wide receiving corps. https://www.cheappadresjerseys.us/ . Jeff Green and Jordan Crawford each scored 19 points, Bass added 15 points and had a game-saving block in the closing seconds Saturday, and the Celtics held on for a 103-100 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.The Pittsburgh Penguins are set to have Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and Patrick Hornqvist back in the lineup within the week. Speaking Monday, Penguins coach Mike Johnston said Crosby has been cleared to skate after taking an injection to treat a lower-body injury during the All-Star break. Crosby will be forced to miss the Penguins Tuesday contest against the Winnipeg Jets for skipping the All-Star game. As for forward Evgeni Malkin, who did not skate Monday, Johnston said the team would have no update until he skates sometime in the next few days. Malkin is also barred from playing against the Jets. JJonhston said Kris Letang, however, will be in the lineup against the Jets after passing the concussion protocol. San Diego Padres Shirts. Letang was injured when he was boarded by Philadelphia Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo. Jonhston added Hornqvists conditioning looks good and he could play at any time. Hornqvist has yet to play in 2015 after suffering a lower-body injury in late December. Forward David Perron exited Mondays practice early but is expected to play against the Jets. Left winger Blake Comeau will resume skating in the next five to seven days. Comeau sustained a wrist injury on December 22. ' ' '