New York (AFP) – The Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets will play two pre-season NBA games in China next October at Macao, the league announced on Monday. The games will be contested October 9 and 11 at the Venetian Arena and follow the NBA’s return to China last October with two pre-season games between the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets.
“The games in Macao earlier this season showed how much passion and enthusiasm there is for the NBA among fans in China and across Asia,” said NBA deputy commissioner and chief operating officer Mark Tatum. “We look forward to welcoming the Mavericks and Rockets to Macao and to once again engaging fans, aspiring players and the local community through the games and surrounding events.”
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The Venetian is owned by the Sands Corporation, whose president is Patrick Dumont, owner of the Mavericks, while the Rockets are the former club of Chinese star Yao Ming. The Rockets, featuring Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun, are off to a 21-11 start this season and rank third in the Western Conference, while the Mavs, 13-23, are sparked by rookie Cooper Flagg and veterans Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson.
The NBA and Sands China Limited will also host youth clinics, a fan area, and social impact programs on health, wellness, and sustainability. The latest games show continued healing followed a rift between the NBA and China in 2019 after Daryl Morey, then the Rockets’ general manager and now president of basketball operations for the Philadelphia 76ers, tweeted support for anti-government protestors in Hong Kong.
“I could not be prouder of having the Mavericks come to Macao,” Dumont said. “The success of the NBA China Games 2025 demonstrated the strength of the NBA in creating fan engagement and exciting experiences around the globe. The NBA China Games 2026 will be another great opportunity to showcase the league, its world-class athletes, and the excitement it brings.”
Patrick Fertitta, son of Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, said the team was honored to bring a “Texas-sized” NBA matchup to China. “Since drafting Hall of Famer Yao Ming first overall in 2002, we have received overwhelming love from the passionate basketball fans of China and built several cherished memories playing overseas,” Fertitta said. “We’re excited to have another opportunity to represent the NBA abroad and showcase our team in front of the fans in Macao next preseason.”
© 2024 AFP
