NBA Global Games to start ticket sales in Beijing, Shanghai

Tickets for NBA Global Games 2013 in Beijing and Shanghai featuring the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors will go on sale Aug 8 at 3:00 pm. The two teams will play at the MasterCard Center in Beijing on Oct 15 at 7:00 pm and will meet again at the Mercedes-Benz Arena on Oct 18 at 7:00 pm.

Warriors forward Harrison Barnes shows his basketball skills during a basketball clinic for 60 youth in Shanghai on Aug 6, 2013. [Photo provided to China Daily]

In addition to Damai, fans can purchase special Fan Zone tickets exclusively through the NBA Tmall Store at NBAStore.tmall.com. Fan Zones are specially-designated seating areas within both the MasterCard Center and the Mercedes-Benz Arena where fans of the Lakers and Warriors can sit together and support their favorite team. Fans that purchase these limited Fan Zone tickets at the NBA Tmall Store will be awarded a limited-edition Lakers or Warriors t-shirt.

In support of NBA Global Games 2013, Warriors forward Harrison Barnes, who was named to the 2012-13 NBA All-Rookie First Team, conducted a basketball clinic for 60 youth in Shanghai yesterday and hosted a draw for fans to win tickets to the game. He also personally delivered a set of tickets to a lucky fans home.

Tickets will be available at a wide range of prices starting at RMB 200 so that fans will have the opportunity to attend the games. Fans should only purchase tickets through the official channels.

NBA Global Games 2013 in Beijing and Shanghai are authorized and supported by the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and co-hosted by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports and the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Sports. These games will mark the seventh edition of NBA preseason games in China.

The Lakers' roster includes two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash, four-time NBA All-Star Pau Gasol and five-time NBA Champion Kobe Bryant. This will be the first time the 16-time NBA champions play preseason games in Asia.

The Warriors feature a talented young roster led by Stephen Curry, the NBA's record holder for three pointers made in one regular season, NBA All-Stars David Lee and Andre Iguodala. This will be the Warriors second trip to China - the team played in Beijing and Guangzhou in 2008.

The full 2013-14 NBA Global Games schedule includes a total of 12 NBA teams playing 10 regular season and preseason games in eight cities in six countries and territories. This will be the most NBA teams to play internationally in a single season in league history.

Along with Beijing and Shanghai, NBA Global Games also includes games in Bilbao, Spain; Istanbul, Turkey; London and Manchester, UK; Manila, Philippines; Mexico City, Mexico; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Chinese Taipei.

Following the 2013-14 NBA Global Games, the NBA will have staged 148 games (regular season and preseason) in 20 countries and territories across Europe, the Americas and Asia since 1978.

In 2004, the NBA became the first American professional sports league to play games in China, with games between the Houston Rockets and the Sacramento Kings in Shanghai and Beijing. Since then the league has hosted 13 games in China.