NBA (the United States’ National Basketball Association) stars Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, alongside others, shared the excitement of bringing basketball to Macau as the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets prepare to face each other in The NBA China Games 2026 at The Venetian Arena tonight.
Players from both teams spoke to the media yesterday ahead of the two preseason games, with several highlighting the opportunity to connect with local fans and experience the city and wider region.
For Irving, who first visited China when he was 19, said that returning to Asia carried a deeper significance. The Mavericks guard described his continued visits as a “social responsibility” to remain aware of the people and communities supporting him. “Coming back here is going to feel like a second home now,” Irving said, adding that the current trip has also provided the Mavericks with an opportunity to “build chemistry” after significant changes to the roster.
Irving also welcomed the international basketball community’s debates over the league’s greatest scorers and most skilled players, saying such discussions contribute to the stories surrounding basketball.
Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg said he was focused more on the process than individual goals, emphasising the importance of showing up every day, working hard and not skipping steps. Flagg also described playing in a new culture as a special experience.
“It’s really special to have that chance, like I said, to come to a new place, to embrace new fans, new culture, and really spread the love of the game,” Flagg said.
Mavericks centre Daniel Gafford praised the passion of Chinese basketball fans and said the team was focused on building chemistry and establishing its playing style ahead of the regular season. Gafford also said the Mavericks would need to “bring energy and physicality” against Houston, describing the Rockets as “a real physical team.”
Meanwhile, for the Rockets, Durant said he was excited to be playing in an international competition and also facing Irving on the court again after the latter’s extended absence after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) last NBA season. “It feels amazing. I’m excited to see Kyrie back. He spent the last year and a half out with the ACL injury,” Durant said, adding that “the game of basketball itself means Kyrie on the floor. So that’s an exciting time.”
Durant, who is entering his 20th NBA season, said he continues to be motivated by his desire for improvement rather than a particular individual accolade. “I love striving for perfection. I love teamwork and camaraderie. It’s just fun. That’s my lifestyle,” he said. The Rockets forward also said he remains open to potentially representing the United States at the 2028 Olympics, although he stressed that much could change before then.
“Yeah, we’ll see. I mean, it definitely will be amazing,” Durant said. “It’s always incredible to represent your country and have a lot of opportunities again. But a lot can happen in that time,” he added
Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. said the long trip to Macau had also helped strengthen the team’s chemistry.
“I think you’re just out here together. All you’ve got is yourself and all you’ve got is your teammates,” Smith said, adding that “you’re forced to spend time with your teammates. You’re forced to do different things with them, try different things with them. I think it’s definitely a bonding thing for sure.”
Smith noted that his primary goal for the season was winning, while also targeting a place on the NBA All-Defensive Team and looking to expand his game. “I want to make a deep playoff win. I want to be deep in the playoffs, the Western Conference Finals, win the West and get to the finals. That’s my main goal,” Smith said.
Meanwhile, Rockets centre Steven Adams also took time to experience Macau and Beijing’s culture and history, saying he enjoys learning about Chinese culture and trying local food.
“I always love Chinese culture because it has a long history, you know, 3,000 years, and that’s what’s cool about Beijing. The Chinese culture, which I enjoy, that’s what I’ve been doing around here in Macau as well, just learning a bit about the history,” Adams said.
He also joked that former teammate Russell Westbrook would be his preferred companion for travelling around the region, saying Westbrook could take him to places he otherwise could not go. He also said that while he was in the local streets, he was mistaken for US-Hawaiian actor Jason Momoa.
The Mavericks and Rockets are scheduled to meet in two preseason games tonight and Sunday at The Venetian Arena as part of The NBA China Games 2026. For the players, the local trip represents both preparation for the coming NBA season and an opportunity to connect with a growing international basketball community.
Houston Rockets’ Kevin Durant (left) and Dallas Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving talk to each other at The Venetian Arena in Cotai yesterday – Photos: Khalel Vallo
The Houston Rockets’ centre Steven Adams speaks with the media after yesterday’s “Tip-Off Day” as part of the “NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week 2026” at The Venetian Arena in Cotai. – Photo: Rui Pastorin
The Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg speaks to the media yesterday.
