An NBA-style public basketball court is to be built in Shenzhen to promote the sport within local communities, according to the National Basketball Association.

A cooperative project between the NBA, Ministry of Education and the cultural, sport and tourism bureau of Longgang district of Shenzhen, Guangdong province, the court will be built near the Longgang Universiade Center, the main venue of the 2011 Shenzhen Universiade.

Construction, following the first NBA-style court in Shanghai, will be complete in September.

The project comes after the NBA and the ministry signed an agreement in October last year to promote the sport among communities and schools.

A preseason NBA game between the Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Clippers will be staged in Shenzhen on Oct 11, followed by a rematch in Shanghai on Oct 14.