The Houston Rocket’s Jabari Smith Jr in action during his side’s first NBA China Game against the Dallas Mavericks at The Venetian Arena. Photo: Elson Li
A new deal signed by NBA China and Shanghai Jiushi will see the league help the Chinese Basketball Association side with the development of its players, coaches and front office.
The collaboration with the reigning CBA champions is the first of its kind, and comes as the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets clash in two pre-season friendlies in Macau.
According to a statement released by the NBA, the agreement will cover four key areas: elite player development, competition opportunities, coach training and front office executives.
For players who show promise, there will be access to international basketball development programmes, while the club will get the chance to take part in “events and competitions conducted by the NBA in China and across Asia”.