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| The Boston Celtics Kyrie Irving is featured in this year's commercial for Chinese New Year. |
OVER THE LAST few years, the NBA has made it a tradition to introduce a commercial featuring various NBA players marking the Chinese New Year.
Clearly the league has the Chinese market in its sights. But all skepticism aside, the commercials are well done and a pleasure to watch.
This year’s spots are entitled Fireworks and feature superstars Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and Kawhi Leonard. Here’s one with Irving in the spotlight.
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| One of the Warriors jerseys feature a 'Year of the Dog' theme. |
Jeremy Lin has starred in previous years, but with the Brooklyn Net point guard out for the season, he sat out this year’s promotion. However, he is participating in a Weibo chat. He will be at a traditional Chinese New Year dinner and taking questions from fans on February 6. He will also be seen on NBA’s China television and digital platform in a film short, Jeremy Lin: Roots.
(Views From the Edge contributed to this report.)
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According to Fansided, 12 NBA teams will be hosting Chinese New Year celebrations this year. Those teams are the 76ers, Bulls, Cavaliers, Clippers, Kings, Knicks, Raptors, Rockets, Timberwolves, Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors.
The Golden State Warriors have been particularly aggressive in wooing the Asian market. The team played several pre-season games in China this fall. For the past several years, the Warriors sent some of its stars, including Steph Curry and Klay Thompson to Asia.
China remains the NBA’s biggest market, according to the league, which maintains offices across Asia, including China, the Philippines, and India. The NBA’s partnership with China Central Television, the country’s national TV station, dates back more than three decades, the league said.
Last season, more than half of the China's roughly 1.4 billion people watched NBA programming on television in China, according to the league. It’s also the most followed sports league on Chinese social media, with more than 141 million followers.
The Golden State Warriors have been particularly aggressive in wooing the Asian market. The team played several pre-season games in China this fall. For the past several years, the Warriors sent some of its stars, including Steph Curry and Klay Thompson to Asia.
China remains the NBA’s biggest market, according to the league, which maintains offices across Asia, including China, the Philippines, and India. The NBA’s partnership with China Central Television, the country’s national TV station, dates back more than three decades, the league said.
Last season, more than half of the China's roughly 1.4 billion people watched NBA programming on television in China, according to the league. It’s also the most followed sports league on Chinese social media, with more than 141 million followers.
“The NBA Chinese New Year Celebration has become a wonderful occasion for the league to celebrate and connect with Chinese fans around the world,” NBA China CEO David Shoemaker said in a statement.
(Views From the Edge contributed to this report.)
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