Tonight in Washington D.C., the NBA will honor the Chinese New Year by kicking off festivities during tonight's Wizards game against the Brooklyn Nets.
This is the first of 23 games to be televised live in China over the next eight-days by the Chinese international state run network China Central Television, China Daily reports, adding that the celebration will include a variety of events such as hundreds of costumed students performing traditional folk dancing, a martial arts show, and much more.
The Wizards are playing host to the opening festivities, which are expected to draw 96 million viewers, because it was the first NBA organization to travel to China back in 1979. Miami, Chicago, Toronto, and the Golden State Warriors are also partaking in the celebrations. The Los Angeles Clippers and Boston Celtics will have in-arena signage to recognize the holiday, marking the Year of the Snake which begins on February 10.
"Chinese New Year is the most important festival for our fans in China, and we are happy to once again celebrate with them and their families," NBA CEO David Shoemaker said.
Ever since the 1980s, the Chinese NBA fan base has grown to become the largest outside the U.S.. Viewership has increased dramatically since Yao Ming joined the Houston Rockets in 2002. Ming's jump into the league was followed by another star athlete from the Chinese mainland, Yi Jianlian, who played with the Nets and Wizards. Chinese fans have also been following the play of American-born Jeremy Lin since his rise to fame with the New York Knicks last season.
February 12 through the 14, three double-headers will be broadcasted in China. Last year's NBA Finals rematch between the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder will headline the event. Former Serbian NBA star Peja Stojakovic will host a viewing party in Beijing for the Celtics and Lakers game.
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