The NBA in PRC: Nets vs Kings at MasterCard Center, Oct 15

Kipp Whittaker | Oct 11, 2014 9:00 am | Add a comment | 1336 reads

Hollywood is not the only industry looking to expand in China. The NBA is also constantly making huge strides to become the most popular sport in the mainland. The league is returning this month for the NBA Global Games at the MasterCard Center on October 15, where the Sacramento Kings will face off against the Brooklyn Nets. This is the 17th NBA game to occur on Chinese soil, and it is sure to be an event for the ages, full of all necessary athletic pandemonium and nothing-but-net action that you know and love. You can go here to purchase tickets online. 

This series of international games is meant to help the NBA connect with fans globally, giving people from around the world an opportunity to catch some world class basketball. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and San Antonio Spurs are joining in on the pre-season fun, by playing a series of games in Brazil, Germany, and Turkey. 

Here are some fun facts about history of the NBA in China:

  • The NBA became the first American professional sports league to play games in China in 2004, and the mainland has since hosted 16 games.
  • The NBA has broadcasted games in China since the mid 1980s.
  • China is now the NBA’s largest foreign merchandise market. Goldman Sachs has valued NBA China at USD 2.4 billion.
  • The NBA is the most popular sports league in China and is the largest market for the NBA outside the United States by a large margin thanks to stars like Yao Ming and Jeremy Lin.
  • In the 1980s the NBA didn’t charge for television rights to build interest and loyalty. Now 51 broadcasters in China show NBA games.
  • There is a Nike-sponsored LeBron James Museum in Shanghai.

Photos: cdn.fansided.com, dy.snimg.com