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National Basketball Association (NBA) Commissioner David Stern said he is planning to import some NBA regular season games to China, due to the huge potential of the fast-expanding market.

 

The NBA brought two pre-season games between the Houston Rockets and the Sacramento Kings to Beijing and Shanghai in 2004, the first time two NBA teams faced off in China.

 

"We didn't have a China Game in the following year because we were working out the collective bargaining agreement then. We're not having it this year because of the preparations for the World Championships," Stern said.

 

"But we are planning to play some games here next year. It could be pre-season games, or even regular season games," said Stern, who is in Guangzhou for the US team's warm-up games against China and Brazil.

 

"China is the second biggest market for the NBA, and sometimes its even bigger than the US," Stern added.

 

NBA Asia, the league's Asian division, moved its headquarters from Hong Kong to Beijing last year, and has set up a Shanghai branch to explore the Chinese market.

 

Staff numbers have expanded from 20 to 50 in two years and they have signed global partnership contracts with several Chinese companies.

 

"We want to make the China Game a regular feature. We'll have pre-season games, regular season games, national competitions and coaching clinics here. China is such an exciting market."

 

"The growth of the NBA in China will mirror and parallel the growth of the Chinese economy. I am comfortable forecasting a great growth and a great success for the NBA in China."

 

The historic Guangzhou tournament marks the first ever visits to China by a USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team that features NBA players and the Brazilian Men's National Team.

 

"It's the longest trip that I've ever taken. I'm really excited," guard Kirk Hinrich said. "It's going to be a great experience, and the only way it's going to be a truly great experience is to go out and win, so that's what we're focused on in the game against China."

 

Lebron James, the 21-year-old superstar swingman of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Dwyane Wade, the electric 24-year-old All-Star guard of the NBA champion Miami Heat, are the pick of the star-studded outfit.

 

Other big names in the young team include Chris Bosh, the All-Star forward of the Toronto Raptors, and Denver forward Carmelo Anthony; guards Gilbert Arenas of Washington and Chris Paul of New Orleans; swingman Joe Johnson of Atlanta and forward-centre Dwight Howard of Orlando.

 

Team USA, which is gearing up for the World Championships in Japan starting August 19, is in good form after thrashing Puerto Rico twice last week in the US.

 

"I'm excited about going over to China and seeing how it is, but most importantly I'm ready to go over there and play," Anthony said.

 

The two-day tournament is being held at the 10,000-seat Guangzhou Gymnasium, with both games tipping off at 8 PM. The tickets will cost up to 3,800 yuan (about US$475), almost the same as the 2004 China Games in Beijing and Shanghai.

 

China Central Television (CCTV) and Guangdong TV will broadcast both games. The today's game will be carried live on CCTV 5 and Guangdong Cable Sports Channel, while tomorrow's game will be carried live on Guangdong Cable Sports Channel and afterwards on CCTV 5.

 

(China Daily August 7, 2006)