In Macao, this house always wins

No regular fan event can match the star power on offer in Macao at what is only the appetizer for the main hoops feast at this year's NBA China Games.

Featuring an All-Star cast rarely seen at similar events, the return of the NBA House, a free, interactive fan carnival, to Macao, which was announced on Monday, has tipped off the countdown to the premier basketball league's preseason trip to the Chinese special administrative region.

A total of 10 NBA legends, headlined by Ray Allen, the league's third-highest-ranked 3-point shooter of all time, Chris Bosh, an 11-time league All-Star, and Jeremy Lin, an Asian fan favorite, will make appearances at the NBA House, which will be hosted in Halls A and B at the Venetian Macao from Oct 7-11. They will interact with fans at the festival of basketball, music, fashion, technology and cuisine.

The excitement is expected to be off the charts when the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets lock horns in their two NBA China Games fixtures at the 14,000-seat Venetian Arena on Oct 9 and Oct 11, in what has been dubbed a Texas "civil war".

The 2026 NBA China Games, presented by league partner Taobao 88VIP, are coming off a hugely successful 2025 edition, which featured a double-header between the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns at the same arena, and are part of a multi-year partnership between the NBA and Sands China Ltd, a major resort operator in Macao.

Building on the quality and intensity of the 2025 games, this year's clash of two championship-caliber franchises has so much more to offer, with each team boasting multiple All-Star level starters and respective connections with Chinese basketball.

The Mavericks will arrive in Macao with a balanced lineup combining superstar charisma and youthful vitality. Led by nine-time All-Star Kyrie Irving, one of the league's most entertaining ball handlers and clutch playmakers, the team also features outstanding athleticism and defensive versatility from Cooper Flagg, the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year, and big man Dereck Lively II.

The Rockets will bring even greater depth to Macao, led by two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant, a perennial All-Star and one of the most lethal scorers in league history, and Turkiye's all-rounder Alperen Sengun, a two-time All-Star center with sophisticated low-post skills and excellent playmaking ability. Amen Thompson, a 2024-25 All-Defensive First Team selection renowned for his explosive athleticism and perimeter defense, is also on the roster.

The Rockets' mix of experience, strength in the paint and defensive toughness will create a stark contrast to the Mavericks' scintillating, attack-minded style, guaranteeing two thrilling showdowns in Macao.

As the NBA continues expanding its presence in arguably its biggest overseas market, there is no better choice than picking two franchises truly relevant to the host country on the 2026 tour.

The Rockets have built a special tie with Chinese fans by selecting Hall of Famer Yao Ming as first overall pick at the 2002 NBA Draft and developing him into an eight-time All-Star, a backbone of the Chinese national team and one of the most recognizable faces on the global sports scene, until a foot injury forced the giant to retire in 2011. Active Chinese national team center Zhou Qi also played in Houston for a short stint during the 2017-18 season.

The Mavericks have also played a pioneering role in introducing Chinese talent to the NBA by selecting former Team China center Wang Zhizhi with the 36th overall pick in the 1999 draft. Two years later, Wang was allowed to join the club and became the first-ever Chinese player to compete in the NBA on April 5, 2001, scoring six points to go with three rebounds on his Dallas debut against the Atlanta Hawks.

Both teams have played in China on previous preseason trips, with the Rockets featuring in the inaugural edition of the NBA China Games in 2004 (against Sacramento Kings) and again in 2010 (versus the Nets), while the Mavs played the Philadelphia 76ers in 2018.