The world's very first NBA center opened on April 25 in Tianjin, according to People's Daily.
Located in Wuqing, the enormous complex will immerse fans in an interactive world of all things NBA featuring recreational basketball courts, retail stores selling NBA merchandise and a children's game center.
The center is a collaborative project between NBA China and Hongkun Group.
Opening ceremony at the new complex [Image via Global Times]
An opening ceremony was held on April 30 with an appearance by professional basketball player Dominique Wilkins. The retired Atlanta Hawks player was a nine-time NBA All-Star and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.
CEO David Shoemaker and CFO Wayne Chang of NBA China were also in attendance, as well as Hongkun Group's president Yuan Chun, as reported by Global Times.
Wilkins teaches a basketball course to young fans [Image via Getty Images]
Tuesday marked the start of a week-long competition to find China's best young basketball talent – also known as the Junior NBA World Championship China Regional Finals. The winners will travel to the US to compete in the first Jr. NBA World Championship, set to be held later this summer in Orlando, Florida.
The motive is to make the game of basketball more accessible to Chinese fans and to inspire younger generations to pursue basketball as a career.
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