The Cleveland Cavaliers are heading to Europe. The franchise announced Wednesday that it will hold its 2026-27 training camp at The Embassy, a high-performance basketball facility in Fuengirola, on the Costa del Sol in Andalusia, Spain, from September 30 through October 5.
The choice is unusual for a top Eastern Conference contender. Behind it sits a personal connection: The Embassy was co-founded by former players Berni Rodríguez and José Calderón – the veteran point guard who played for Cleveland in the 2017-18 season and now holds a front office role with the organization.
Five days on the Costa del Sol
Media Day is set for Monday, September 28, in Cleveland. The squad departs for Andalusia two days later, training in a controlled environment away from the usual media noise until October 5. Their first preseason game – against the Boston Celtics – follows on October 8.
The logic of an overseas camp is well-established at the highest level of team sports. Shared meals, closed practices, and an unfamiliar environment accelerate the process of building collective identity. That matters even more when a roster has absorbed significant new pieces.
Building around Harden
The headline move of the offseason is James Harden, the 11-time All-Star who re-signed with Cleveland on a three-year, $97 million contract this summer. Getting a player of that stature aligned with the team’s system early – before the lights come on – is part of what Fuengirola is designed to accomplish.
Harden brings an enormous offensive toolkit and the expectation of a leading role. A full week in Spain, without distractions, gives the coaching staff uninterrupted time to build those connections before the preseason schedule begins.
Cleveland enters 2026-27 as one of the Eastern Conference’s most credible contenders, per ESPN. The Embassy is where that push starts.
Calderón’s connection
The Embassy is not a facility selected from a catalog. Calderón’s ties to Spanish basketball – and his relationship with co-founder Berni Rodríguez – gave the Cavaliers a trusted point of contact on the ground in Andalusia. The center has drawn NBA and EuroLeague players alike during offseasons, with full-size courts, video rooms, and recovery infrastructure.
For Calderón, seeing his former team set up camp at a facility he helped build carries obvious significance. For Cleveland, it’s a statement: the 2026-27 campaign gets serious attention from day one.
The regular season opens October 20.
Sources: Yahoo Sports, Cleveland 19
