The San Antonio Spurs will be training island-style before defending their NBA title.

The Spurs said Thursday that they will hold their training camp at the University of the Virgin Islands' beach-side campus on St. Thomas. The nine-day camp begins Oct. 4.

San Antonio star forward Tim Duncan grew up in the U.S. Virgin Islands, though on the island of St. Croix.

"We've always thought about holding training camp in the Virgin Islands," R.C. Buford, Spurs general manager, said in a written statement. "It certainly is something that is very important to Tim Duncan, but we really think it'll be a great experience for the entire team."

The team will leave St. Thomas on Oct. 13 and travel directly to Charleston, S.C., for a preseason game against Philadelphia on Oct. 14.

"This is a very exciting event for everyone in the Virgin Islands," Peter Sauer, the university's athletic director, said in a statement issued by the Spurs. "We are thrilled that an NBA team is coming to our community. The fact that it is the San Antonio Spurs makes it even sweeter."