The Warriors are one of the hottest tickets in the NBA. Whenever the Warriors visit the other 29 teams in the NBA, it is usually in front of a packed house because even the opposing fans want to get a glimpse of Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
It’s like watching All-Star team lace it up every night in different arenas accross the league. Since the United States and Canada are the only countries that have seen the Warriors this season, it’s time to share the love. The Warriors will be traveling to China to play some pre-season games as part of the NBA Global Games China 2017.
The Warriors will be facing the Minnesota Timberwolves in two games in China as both teams prepare for the 2017-18 season. One of the games will be Shenzhen and the other Shangai. This will mark the third time the Warriors have traveled to China to play pre-season basketball. They first went to China in 2008 and then went back in 2013.
The people of China will surely be thrilled to hear that they will get to see this juggernaut of a team. China loves the game of basketball, so expect the Warriors to be treated like the Beatles. It should be a fun atmosphere and a good opportunity to showcase the talents of one of the greatest team the NBA has ever seen.
Here’s the official press release from the Warriors:
OAKLAND, CA – The Golden State Warriors will play two preseason games in China against the Minnesota Timberwolves as part of the NBA Global Games China 2017, it was announced today by the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Warriors will face off against the Timberwolves on Thursday, October 5 in Shenzhen at the Shenzhen Universiade Center, followed by a rematch in Shanghai at the Mercedes-Benz Arena on Sunday, October 8.
“I have visited China every year since 2013, and the fans there are incredibly supportive of me, the Warriors and the NBA,” said Warriors Guard Stephen Curry, the NBA’s back-to-back most valuable player (MVP). “I’m excited about the opportunity to return to China, enjoy the country’s culture, and bring the excitement of live NBA games game directly to Chinese fans.”
For video and sound of Warriors All-Star guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson and Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr talking about playing in China, please click here.
This will mark the third trip the Warriors have made to China following visits in 2008 and 2013. As part of the NBA’s comprehensive global games schedule during the 2013-14 preseason, the Warriors travelled to China to play the Los Angeles Lakers in Beijing’s MasterCard Center on October 15 and in Shanghai’s Mercedes Benz Arena on October 18. Previously, also as part of the NBA Global Games, the Warriors played two preseason contests against the Milwaukee Bucks in Beijing and Guangzhou during the 2008-09 preseason. Following NBA Global Games China 2017, 14 NBA teams will have played 24 games in Greater China since 2004, in Beijing, Guangzhou, Macao, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Taipei.
The Warriors were one of the first teams to launch a Chinese website and a Weibo account in October of 2013 and currently have the most followers in the NBA on Weibo with over 2.8 million followers.
NBA Global Games China 2017 will feature a variety of fan activities, including the sixth annual Fan Appreciation Day presented by Dongfeng Nissan on Oct. 7 in Shanghai, which will provide thousands of fans with the opportunity to participate in on-court games and watch the Warriors and Timberwolves practice. In addition to Fan Appreciation Day, the league and its partners will conduct an interactive fan activity in Shenzhen and NBA Cares community events in both cities.
For more information on the Golden State Warriors 2016-17 season, presented by Kaiser Permanente, visit warriors.com.
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