Fans thrilled as NBA brings pre-season basketball back to China for first time since 2019

VIDEO SHOWS: NBA-RELATED SIGNAGE AND MERCHANDISE AT NBA HOUSE IN MACAU/SOUNDBITE FROM NBA FANS FULL SCRIPT TO FOLLOW SHOWS: MACAU, CHINA (OCTOBER 9, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all) 1. 'NBA HOUSE' SIGN 2. NBA LOGO 3. MERCHANDISE SHOP 4. CLOSE UP OF MERCHANDISE 5. PEOPLE MEASURING JUMPS 6. NBA PLAYERS SIGN 7. PEOPLE SHOPPING 8. MAN HOLDING UP JERSEY 9. CLOSE UP OF JERSEY 10. (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 37-YEAR-OLD NBA FANS FROM XIAMEN, FUJIAN PROVINCE, CHINA, LYU YIZHE, SAYING:     "I’m incredibly, incredibly excited because this time, we came specifically to watch the NBA China Games. We’d been preparing and planning for this two months in advance. This time, it feels extra special because we’re long-time NBA fans — we’ve been watching since 1998, back in the Michael Jordan and Chicago Bulls era. Then we followed the Shaq and Kobe duo era, and later the Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady era." 11. NBA SIGN 12. NBA SHOP 13. MAN POSES FOR PHOTOGRAPH WITH CUT-OUT 14. PLAYER DOLL 15. (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 37-YEAR-OLD NBA FANS FROM XIAMEN, FUJIAN PROVINCE, CHINA, LYU YIZHE, SAYING:     "For Chinese fans, the NBA feels so far away — literally half a world apart. That’s why we felt we had to come to the NBA China Games. If you ever get the chance, you must experience it live — it’s a completely different feeling from watching on TV. Plus, so many legends like Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett, and Shaquille O’Neal are coming; they’re all part of our childhood memories. Being able to see them in person is such a precious and beautiful memory." 16. WIDE OF EVENT 17. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE PLAYING BASKETBALL GAMES 18. (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 26-YEAR-OLD NBA FANS FROM HANGZHOU, ZHEJIANG PROVINCE, CHINA, MOLE ZENG, SAYING:     "I believe the NBA will definitely return to China sooner or later. Even though it’s been six years since the last time, I’m still incredibly excited about this reunion. This year’s match-up is between the Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns. My favourite player is Kevin Durant — but unfortunately, he withdrew before the China Games, so I won’t get to see him this time, which I do feel a bit disappointed about. But I believe that in the future, as the NBA continues to grow in China, more and more star players will come here to meet us in person." 19. NBA PLAYER DISPLAY 20. EVENT VENUE 21. NBA SIGN STORY: TO FOLLOW

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