Koby Altman Reveals Why Cavaliers Are Holding Training Camp in Spain

The Cleveland Cavaliers are holding training camp in Spain because a planned preseason trip to the Middle East fell through, president of basketball operations Koby Altman said Friday.

Spain was always part of the plan, Altman said at the team's start-of-season press conference with head coach Kenny Atkinson. The team had planned to fly from there to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

"There are a few reasons," Altman said. "We were going to go to the Middle East to play two preseason games, potentially one in Doha and one in Abu Dhabi. To break up the trip, [we] were going to have training camp in Spain and then fly to the Middle East. Unfortunately that's not an option, but we didn't want to lose the Spanish piece because it's a special place."

ESPN reported on July 30 that the NBA would not stage preseason games in the Middle East this year because of the ongoing conflict in the region. The league had held discussions with the Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, and Washington Wizards about playing there, according to ESPN.

The NBA had also explored hosting its first game in Doha, which is scheduled to host the 2027 FIBA World Cup. One scenario had two teams playing one game in Doha and one in Abu Dhabi on the same trip, ESPN reported.

Abu Dhabi had hosted NBA preseason games in each of the previous four years. The New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers played there last October.

Cavaliers executive José Calderón helped design The Embassy in Andalusia in Fuengirola with Berni Rodríguez, his former teammate on Spain's national team.

"José Calderón helped co-found the facility in Málaga, which is spectacular," Altman explained. "At least a fourth of the league has been there, and the Players Association hosts an event there called the Sanctuary each summer. We've hosted hundreds of players over the last few years, and people say how good they feel coming out of that venue. Being on the coast of Spain is spectacular."

Calderón played for the Cavaliers during their run to the 2018 NBA Finals. He rejoined the organization as a special adviser in 2022 after working for the National Basketball Players Association.

On Sept. 18, Cleveland promoted Calderón to assistant general manager. The team's release credited him with helping arrange this camp.

According to the team's announcement, the facility has about 1,500 square meters of basketball space, including two courts built to FIBA and NBA standards.

The NBA, FIBA, and the Spanish Basketball Federation held Basketball Without Borders Europe at the same training center in 2024. Atkinson, then a Golden State Warriors assistant coach, was on that camp's coaching staff.

Cleveland's next camp will be at home. The Cavaliers move into the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center downtown, which is expected to open in 2027.

"We're moving into a brand-new, beautiful, very expensive building next year, so we're done with the trips," Altman said. "We have to have training camp in the new facility we just built. It's kind of the last hurrah. All those reasons led us to travel to Málaga."

Cleveland spent its previous two camps at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Altman said getting the team away from home removes distractions.

"I also love what we've done the last two years in Sarasota and IMG Academy," Altman said. "It's a retreat for us. It helps us come together, eliminates distractions, and creates more organic interactions and interpersonal connections when you're away with your group. Put that backdrop on the Mediterranean Ocean and I think it's going to be okay."

After media day Monday, the team flies to Spain on Sept. 29. The Cavaliers practice at The Embassy from Sept. 30 through Oct. 5 and scrimmage at Martín Carpena Arena in Málaga on Oct. 4.

Cleveland plays its first preseason game Oct. 8 at home against the Boston Celtics.