NBA stars to celebrate Chinese New Year

Nine-time NBA All-Star, NBA Champion and Hall of Famer Gary Payton. [Photo/IC]

WASHINGTON -- NBA will pay tribute to its largest international fanbase from Feb. 20 to March 5 with its biggest ever Chinese New Year celebration, ushering in the Year of the Goat with millions of fans in China, the US and around the world.

The celebration will feature a record 56 live games broadcast and streamed in Greater China, showcasing 27 of the 30 NBA teams; the debut of "Surprise Door," the first NBA Chinese New Year television spot, which embraces the diversity of the league's fans; the unveiling of the first Chinese New Year uniforms; and the tip-off of the Chinese New Year Celebration Season of Giving initiative to support underprivileged communities in China.

"Chinese New Year is a time of joyful family reunion and provides an occasion for us to share in the festivities by delivering the excitement of the NBA right into the homes of our fans," said NBA China CEO David Shoemaker.

"We truly appreciate the support of our Chinese fans, and we are thrilled to tip off our NBA Chinese New Year Celebration Season of Giving by dedicating a new basketball court in Fujian Province."

Nine-time NBA All-Star, NBA Champion and Hall of Famer Gary Payton will tip off the festivities and the inaugural NBA Chinese New Year Celebration Season of Giving initiative in China on Jan. 30 with a basketball clinic and traditional Chinese New Year meal with underprivileged students in Nanping, Fujian Province.

Payton will also participate in the unveiling of a basketball court donated to the school by the NBA. He will then travel to Shanghai to visit the children at the NBA Yao Basketball Club, conduct a basketball clinic for a group of Special Olympics athletes and share in the joy of the holiday by giving out special NBA Chinese New Year gifts.

As part of the NBA Chinese New Year Celebration, the NBA will donate more than 1,600 Spalding basketballs to elementary school students in each of China' s 34 provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions and special administrative zones.