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Experiencing the NBA in China, from those who were there

Nets take care of business on court, enjoy sights, sounds off of it

The plane was enormous.

When the Brooklyn Nets team buses pulled onto the tarmac at Newark airport on the afternoon of Wednesday, Oct. 8, the stunning size of the United Airlines 747 charter provided the first thrill and a prelude of what was to come.
Cellphones popped out like umbrellas in a summer rainstorm as almost every player and support staff member took a photo and a selfie with the giant bird. Fourteen hours later the plane would land in Shanghai, where the Nets would play the first of two preseason games in China against the Sacramento Kings.

Fans in this basketball-crazy country were waiting. Kevin Garnett and Deron Williams received frenetic cheers from fans.

Despite the jet lag, everyone got a chuckle from the tour guide on the bus from the Shanghai airport to the Ritz-Carlton. “My name is Ping,” she said. “Not Ping Pong.”

She took pride in informing us that the population of Shanghai is 24 million, three times greater than the population of New York City. If the plane was huge, the city was staggering in its scale and skyline.

Markel Brown poses at the top of the Great Wall before a thrilling ride down.
There was little time for sightseeing, however. The flight landed at about 9 p.m. Thursday, Shanghai time. At 11 a.m. the next morning, the Nets took the court in the Mercedes-Benz Arena, which looked like a space saucer.

Coach Lionel Hollins, who is determined to make this team the mentally toughest in the league, had little sympathy for his players. He ran them hard for about 30 minutes before doing 30 minutes of offense and defense.

The Chinese media peppered the players with questions about Chinese cuisine, the ever-expanding skyline of Shanghai, and LeBron James’ decision to return to Cleveland.

The Nets, with a new coaching staff, several new players, and crucial questions about the health of Williams and Brook Lopez (both of whom had offseason surgeries), weren’t in much of a mood to talk about food or views, and they certainly didn’t care if James had gone to Cleveland or Cameroon.

The team would return to the arena Friday night, along with the Kings, for a Fan Appreciation Night. Fans were thrilled to partake in skills drills with the players. They were delighted when players showered the fans with mini basketballs.

The beauty of basketball is this: It is a common denominator, one that transcends any language and cultural differences.

Finally there was a chance to play, and the sold-out crowd in Mercedes-Benz Arena got their money’s worth.

Kevin Garnett, aka The Big Ticket, opened the scoring with an 18-foot jumper, and 17,381 fans jumped out of their seats. Garnett is no stranger to Chinese sports fans: He is the face of Anta, a China-based sports apparel and shoe company. At 6-11 with a bald head glistening with sweat, KG literally stands out.

Brett Yormark and Billy King of the Nets (left) and Chris Granger and Pete D’Alessandro of the Kings discussed the “Business of Basketball” at an event in Shanghai moderated by Kenneth Jarrett (center) of the American Chamber of Commerce.
Photo by: COURTESY OF BROOKLYN NETS
The two-point victory made for a light-hearted, three-hour flight from Shanghai to Beijing, where one of the Seven Wonders of the World awaited.

There are no words to exaggerate the awesomeness of the Great Wall.

On a beautiful fall day, the 77 mountains offer a spectacular view. But when the wind picked up, one could only begin to consider the brutality of winter. Our tour guide said the wind has been known to blow over a tour bus.

The ride up in a gondola, which provided breathtaking views, was enchanting — just as the toboggan ride down was a thrill. Rookie Markel Brown, a GoPro strapped to his chest, almost fell out of his ride after rear-ending center Jerome Jordan.

For the Nets rookies and first-year players, this was a first trip to the Far East. They posed for photos with fans and took countess selfies.

Energized by the day off and the sightseeing, Tuesday’s practice was a slap back to reality. The emphasis was on fine-tuning the offense, as the regular season was rapidly approaching.

If the 97-95 win over the Kings in Shanghai was thrilling, the 129-117 overtime win Wednesday night at Beijing’s MasterCard Center was exhilarating.

Both teams headed straight for the Beijing airport following the game. Brooklyn’s 14-hour flight back to the United States included three birthday celebrations, including that of swingman Alan Anderson, who was serenaded by flight attendants.

The Nets touched down in Newark airport about 3 a.m. Thursday with a 2-0 record on the trip, and memories for a lifetime.

Lenn Robbins (lrobbins@brooklynnets.com) is senior beat reporter for the Brooklyn Nets.

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