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The games will be the 25th and 26th played in
China while the Mavericks and 76ers will become the 16th and
17th teams as the NBA continues its push into the Asian market.
The preseason contests will be held on Oct. 5 in Shanghai and
Oct. 8 in Shenzhen.
"We are excited to welcome the Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas
Mavericks to China next preseason," NBA China CEO David
Shoemaker said in statement. "The 25th and 26th NBA games in
China mark another milestone in our efforts to bring the
authentic NBA experience to our passionate Chinese fans.”
The Mavericks, who failed to qualify for a playoff spot this
season, feature 13-time NBA All-Star and 2011 NBA Finals most
valuable player Dirk Nowitzki of Germany. The 76ers, who are
back in the postseason this year, are led by dynamic Australian
and rookie of the year candidate Ben Simmons.
“When I played in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, I witnessed China’s
enthusiasm for basketball firsthand," said Nowitzki. "It will be
a fantastic experience for our franchise to play in China for
the first time.
"We’re also excited about the possibility of reconnecting with
two great Chinese players who played for the Mavericks, Wang
Zhizhi and Yi Jianlian.”
China has grown into the NBA's biggest and most important market
outside of North America.
The NBA currently has relationships with a network of television
and digital media outlets in China, including a 31-year
partnership with CCTV and maintains marketing partnerships with
a combination of China-based corporations and U.S.-based
multi-nationals.
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto. Editing by Toby Davis)
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