The 76ers and Mavericks played two preseason games against each other in China last OctoberNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
The NBA continues to see "staggering growth opportunities" in China as it attempts to "make basketball the most popular sport in the world's largest nation," according to Shlomo Sprung of FORBES. The NBA Finals on CCTV last June drew 25 million viewers per game, and NBA China CEO Derek Chang estimates that regular-season games "average four million viewers on CCTV and three million" on Tencent's streaming service despite 8:00pm ET games tipping off at 9:00am in China. The NBA estimates it "has 180 million social media followers in China, and its flagship weekly show 'NBA Primetime' has averaged 28 million viewers per episode over the last three years." Chang said that the league "employs as many people devoted to the NBA in China as the league itself." Sprung noted there are "initiatives to grow the game through marketing and grassroots efforts in China." The league "has 200 NBA Style stores across the country," with a "new Beijing flagship store" opening next month. The NBA sends a pair of teams to "play two preseason games" in China every year. The Lakers and Nets will play this October, which will be the 27th and 28th NBA games played in China since '04. The NBA is also in its eight season of having games "centered around the Lunar New Year" (FORBES.com, 3/4).
EXPANDING REACH: In Tokyo, Kaz Nagatsuka notes Japan "will host NBA games for the first time in 16 years" when the Rockets and Raptors face off in two preseason games on Oct. 8 and 10 at Saitama Super Arena, which will be the basketball venue at the '20 Tokyo Games. The games will be "cohosted by the league and Rakuten," which became a league sponsor in '17. Rakuten CEO Hiroshi Mikitani said that "bringing NBA games back to Japan would boost the popularity of the game" in the country. He added that it "could also impact Japanese sports leagues from an entertainment standpoint" (JAPAN TIMES, 3/5). NBA Asia Exec VP & Managing Dir Scott Levy said that teams are "excited to play in Japan and are impressed with the 'tremendous social media following' generating excitement about the sport throughout the country" (KYODO NEWS, 3/5).
