As the NBA continues to work on expanding its global reach, the league has announced it will play two 2015 preseason games in China, and will be bringing the game to Shenzhen for the very first time.
From the official release:The Clippers and Hornets will play the NBA’s first game ever in Shenzhen when they meet on Oct. 11 at the Shenzhen Universiade Center, followed by a rematch in Shanghai on Oct. 14 at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. The games in China will be part of NBA Global Games 2015, with additional games announced at a later date.
The announcement took place today in Shenzhen with NBA China CEO David Shoemaker and Deputy Director of Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ke Gangming. Eight-time NBA All-Star and NBA Global Ambassador Dikembe Mutombo also participated in the announcement and hosted a basketball clinic for fans. ...
The NBA in 2004 became the first American professional sports league to compete in China, with two exhibition games between the Houston Rockets and the Sacramento Kings in Shanghai and Beijing. Following NBA Global Games China 2015, the NBA will have played 20 games in Greater China since 2004. The NBA is the most popular sports league in China, and basketball is the nation’s number one team sport, with 300 million people playing the game.
The Nets and Kings played preseason games in China this year, and the league held two regular season games outside the country, as well -- one in London between the Bucks and the Knicks, and one in Mexico City between the Timberwolves and the Rockets.