BEIJING -- Back in October 2004, the Houston Rockets -- led by Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady -- traveled to China, where they played two exhibition games against the Sacramento Kings in Beijing and Shanghai. Chinese basketball fans were able to experience the excitement of an NBA game at home for the first time.
Since then, China has been on the map of the NBA Global Games each year as the league aggressively caters to hundreds of millions of zealous basketball fans in the Asian economic powerhouse and the world's most populous country.
Among thousands of fans attending Wednesday's game between the Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans in Beijing was Zhai Xiaochuan, a 23-year-old basketball player from the city's home team.
"This is my home court where I normally play, but today I am here as a fan," he said. "This is a strange feeling. By watching NBA players play, I am learning a lot."
Also at the game was Zhai's teammate and former NBA star Stephon Marbury, who is now without a doubt the most successful foreign player in China. Marbury drew big cheers from the crowd every time he appeared on the big screen. He was also greeted in the VIP luxury box by NBA commissioner Adam Silver and former All-Star Gary Payton, who was watching his son play for the Rockets.
The NBA has a strong presence in China, but what's next? Is there a possibility for the country to host an NBA regular-season game? Silver said no during the 2016 All-Star break in Toronto -- not even an All-Star Game.
Many NBA players and teams are reluctant to travel 12 or 13 hours to Asia. When the Los Angeles Clippers played the Charlotte Hornets last year in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, L.A. head coach Doc Rivers said if given a choice he would rather keep his players at home.
NBA teams have played regular-season games before in Asia. Between 1990 and 2003, there were 12 regular-season games in Japan, involving 10 teams.
Many Chinese fans are upset about China not getting the same treatment, especially given the fact that the Chinese market has been bringing in massive revenue for the NBA. But, for now, they'll have to keep waiting.
