BEIJING, Jan. 15, 2020 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced that the ninth NBA Chinese New Year Celebration from Jan. 20 – Feb. 8 will feature all 30 NBA teams and the debut of new television and digital spots.
As part of the NBA Chinese New Year Celebration 2020, the NBA today debuted three television and digital spots in China featuring some of the league’s biggest stars as part of the “Holiday Heroes” series. In “Sketches,” two-time NBA All-Star Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers makes a surprise visit to a fan’s home. In “Bus Ball,” six-time NBA All-Star Paul George of the LA Clippers stars as a magazine print ad comes to life. In “Morning Game,” 2018 All-Rookie First Team and Slam Dunk Champion Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz helps a mother wake her son to watch NBA games.
All 30 NBA teams will celebrate Chinese New Year with various in-game elements, fan giveaways, musical performances, social media content, food, courtside signage, concourse decorations and partner activations.
NBA Champions Bruce Bowen, Shawn Marion and Alonzo Mourning, as well as eight-time NBA All-Star and NBA Global Ambassador Dikembe Mutombo, visited China last week to celebrate the festivities with fans, conduct basketball clinics, and interact with underprivileged children in Sanya, Haikou and Ding’An (Hainan), Neijiang (Sichuan), Shanghai and Beijing.
Chinese New Year Matchups:
The NBA Chinese New Year Celebration 2020 schedule will tip off Jan. 20 as the Western Conference-leading Los Angeles Lakers visit the Boston Celtics in their first matchup of the season. Throughout the 20-day celebration, fans in China will be able to watch live NBA games and content.
Chinese New Year Season of Giving:
As part of the NBA Cares Season of Giving initiative, throughout 2020 NBA China will conduct 20 Legacy Projects, including donating equipment and educational resources to underprivileged schools, beginning in Sanya, Haikou and Ding’An (Hainan), Neijiang (Sichuan), Shanghai and Beijing.
Chinese New Year Special Programming and Social Media Interactions:
A new series called “Basketball Love,” recounting stories about the impact of the game of basketball across China, will debut on Jan. 17 with new episodes airing every other day on the NBA’s official social media platforms in China throughout the Chinese New Year.
The episodes will include a look back at the Washington Bullets’ historic visit to China in 1979 with never before seen footage and exclusive interviews, the inspiring tale of a Jr. NBA basketball squad in Sichuan, and a community hero profile of Mr. Tang, who has taught basketball and math at a rural school for the past 38 years.
Other special programming will include a special Chinese New Year-themed edition of “NBA Study Hall”, a new NBA China-produced daily digital show, and the rollout of the six-episode “Junior Jump Squad” animation series.
Beginning Jan. 18, fans can participate in the “Shoot for the New Year” social media campaign on Douyin, including a player-led fan challenge, and join the “NBA CNY Red Envelope” sweepstakes on Weibo beginning Jan. 20 to win Chinese New Year-themed gift packs and NBA merchandise and apparel. On the NBA App, fans can also play a special Chinese New Year-themed NBA “Pick’Em” contest to win special prizes.
