The NBA has long emphasized expansion in China, where basketball is exploding in popularity among the younger generation. The NBA launched a Chinese-language edition of its official magazine "Hoops" in 1999 and opened its Beijing office three years later.

In 2004, it played its first exhibition games in China. Stern said more games were planned for China next year, but it wasn't decided whether they'd be preseason games or league games.

Stern said teams were scouting for more Chinese talent, with 19-year-old Yi Jiannian, a 7-foot-2 center on the national team, generating the most buzz.

"My guess and bet is that (Yao) is the first and there will be many more Yao Mings over the next decade," Stern said. "It just stands to reason."

Stern said the league will continue pushing into new markets abroad, with exhibition games planned this year for a handful of nations from Russia to Mexico, as well as games between teams from the NBA and the European leagues.

New initiatives are also planned for India, Eastern and Western Europe, South America and eventually Africa, Stern said.

He said he'd dropped the idea of setting up foreign NBA franchises, saying there were different business plans for each region. He insisted, however, the league would not neglect its core American business.

"So we're on the one hand, trying to assure that the NBA remains successful in the United States, while at the next step develop infrastructure on a global basis to take advantage of the opportunities," Stern said. "China is clearly priority No. 1."