The Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks will play two preseason games in China this fall, the league formally announced on Wednesday.
Philadelphia, who finished with a 52-30 record this season, and Dallas, who finished at 24-58, will first play each other on October 5 in Shanghai. The teams will then play a second game three days later in Shenzhen.
The NBA’s popularity has drastically increased around the globe — including with fans located in China. For both the Sixers and Mavericks, these games will mark the first time in franchise history the teams have played in China.
“It will be an honor to be the first 76ers team to play in front of the amazing fan base in China in October,” 76ers center Joel Embiid said.
The Sixers just finished one of their most successful seasons in recent memory, with the team now shifting their focus to reaching the NBA Finals. Their 17-game win streak came to an end after losing to Miami in Game 2, but as displayed in this NBA Championship odds tracker, the team remains well in the mix of contention alongside the Cavaliers and Raptors.
The team’s chances at making the NBA Finals will increase exponentially upon Joel Embiid’s return. He’s missed the first two games of the Playoffs with a fractured orbital bone and is expected to return to action sometime this week.
For the Mavericks, legendary forward Dirk Nowitzki remains a fan-favorite in China. Nowitzki remembers visiting the country as part of Team USA in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
“When I played in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, I witnessed China’s enthusiasm for basketball firsthand,” Nowitzki said. “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.”
These games will mark the NBA’s 25th and 26th contests held in China, with 17 different teams participating since 2004.
