NBA stars on Thursday interacted with local Macau youth as part of the “NBA Cares × Sands Cares Basketball Community Impact Week 2026” – a partnership between the NBA and Sands China.
This year’s NBA China Games will see the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets compete in two pre-season games today (Friday) and Sunday at the Venetian Arena.
On Thursday, the NBA and Sands China invited members of the two teams to interact with local youth. Mavericks stars Kyrie Irving and rookie Cooper Flagg, and Rockets superstar Kevin Durant, participated, engaging with Macau elementary school students and sharing their experiences of developing professional basketball careers. Irving even took part in assembling care packages for NBA Cares and Sands Cares.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and NBA legends Yao Ming and Shawn Marion also attended the event.
In an interview, Irving was asked about his impressions of Macau, expressing his excitement in playing in the SAR and praising the enthusiasm of local fans. He also noted that this week’s games mark his return following injury, revealing he feels strong and is looking forward top performing in front of the Macau crowd.
Durant interacted multiple times with his former teammate Kyrie Irving during the event, which has generated massive buzz.
In a speech, Patrick Dumont, Chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp and Chairman of Sands China, pointed out that for more than two decades, Sands China has grown alongside Macau and remained steadfast in its support of the city.
“For us, the value of major international sporting events extends well beyond what takes place inside the arena,” he said. “Their lasting significance lies in their ability to contribute to social progress and the development of the city.
“This year, we are once again bringing together Sands Cares and NBA Cares to extend the impact of this major sporting event into the Macau community, enabling people of different ages, backgrounds and sectors to experience the spirit and positive energy of the NBA.”
The “NBA Cares × Sands Cares Basketball Community Impact Week” was first held in Macau last year, where several NBA legends visited schools and communities across Macau, engaging with students and residents in person.
