Basketball fans can begin planning their Macau trip after the NBA confirmed the matchups and dates for this year's NBA China Games. The Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets will play two pre-season games at the Venetian Arena on October 9 and 11, marking the second year of a five-year partnership between the NBA and Sands China.
Last year's inaugural edition featured the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns and attracted 22,634 spectators across two games. League officials and venue partners described the turnout as a strong sign of demand for live NBA events in both China and the wider region.
The NBA has signalled that future China Games could feature the Portland Trail Blazers, who drafted Chinese center Yang Hansen 16th overall last summer, and the Boston Celtics, partly owned by Mario Ho Yau-kwan, the youngest son of the late Macau gaming entrepreneur Stanley Ho Hung-sun.
NBA Deputy Commissioner and chief operating officer Mark Tatum said last year that the China Games demonstrated the passion of fans across Asia. Sands China president and chief executive officer Grant Chum similarly called the 2025 event an outstanding success.
The Mavericks roster includes No 1 draft pick Cooper Flagg, veteran guard Kyrie Irving who has not yet played this season due to injury and sharpshooter Klay Thompson. Legendary guard Jason Kidd will coach the team. The Rockets will bring 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant, Turkish center Alperen Sengun and forward Jabari Smith Jnr.
Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont, who also serves as president and chief operating officer of Las Vegas Sands, said he is proud to see his team participate in Macau. Rockets alternate governor Patrick Fertitta said the franchise looks forward to reconnecting with Chinese fans after years of overseas appearances, noting the long-standing support the team received since drafting Yao Ming first overall in 2002.
The NBA China Games 2026 are expected to continue expanding the league's footprint in the region, building on a model that combines fan engagement, tourism and global brand visibility.
Future editions are expected to feature the Portland Trail Blazers and the Boston Celtics due to rising Chinese and Macau-linked ownership and draft interest
