The first week of October will be a big one for basketball in Manatee County.
That comes in the form of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers: The team announced it will hold a six-day training camp at IMG Academy in Bradenton from Oct. 1-6. The camp, according to a release, will mark the official start of the Cavaliers’ preparations for the 2024-25 NBA season.
“The City of Sarasota and IMG Academy in Bradenton provide the perfect setting for our training camp this year,” Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman said in the release. “This is a unique opportunity for us to utilize a world-class facility away from our usual surroundings, providing an excellent setting to build team cohesion and culture. We extend our gratitude to IMG Academy and the surrounding area for their warm hospitality in hosting our organization. Their state-of-the-art facilities and supportive communities will be instrumental in helping us prepare for the upcoming season.”
Cleveland, the 2015 NBA champion, will become the first NBA team to hold training camp at IMG. IMG, on a 600-acre campus, has hosted hundreds of other athletes and teams in the past. The NFL’s San Francisco 49ers held practices at IMG in 2019 when they played two East Coast teams, to avoid long cross-country trips. The Las Vegas Raiders, when they were based in Oakland, also trained there.
“IMG Academy is thrilled to welcome the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers to our world-class campus for their 2024-25 NBA training camp this fall,” IMG Academy COO Mike Milliron said in the release. “Our state-of-the-art environment, facilities, hospitality and IMG Academy’s proven track record of consistently hosting professional sports leagues, organizations and players make us an ideal partner for the Cavaliers as they prepare for their upcoming NBA season. We look forward to providing their staff and players with an unparalleled experience on the IMG Academy campus.”
The Cavaliers’ daily training camp schedule during the week will be announced closer to the start of camp, the release said.
“When we learned that the Cleveland Cavaliers had selected IMG Academy as their training facility, it was no surprise as it reinforces the value IMG brings to our community,” Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said in the release. “Cavs players, coaches, staff and their fans can enjoy our laid-back nature and consider Bradenton a second home as they embark on a new season.”
