- NBA-Themed Indoor Attraction Designed for Children and Their Families-

NBA China announced today that the first NBA Playzone, a basketball-themed family entertainment center,will open in Shanghai this summer. The 1,500-square-meter destination will offer families a fun place to experience the NBA in new ways.

Centrally located in the Hubin Dao Shopping Mall at Xin Tian Di, NBA Playzone will bring NBA excitement to young Chinese fans through a variety of basketball-inspired play areas and activities. NBA mascots Clutch of the Houston Rockets and Benny the Bull of the Chicago Bulls will make regular appearances at NBA Playzone, delighting parents and children alike with their comedic routines.

"NBA Playzone marks another key milestone in NBA China's efforts to connect with our young fans and their families," said NBA China CEO David Shoemaker. "We are excited forthemto learn, interact and play in a healthy environment."

NBA Playzone features 10 signature elements:

Mascot Training Ground: Oversized jungle gym with slides, ball pit and zip-line course to challenge adventure-seeking children.

Rookie Challenge: A soft-play course that challenges young fans to jump, climb, crawl and dunk through a variety of obstacles.

The Arena: Roughly one-third the size of an NBA regulation court, The Arena is designed to teach basketball fundamentals and develop star players of tomorrow.

Dunk Zone: Enclosed trampoline space where children can showcase their high-flying dunking skills.

Halftime Live: Digital interactive area featuring tablets where children can customize characters and interact with them through a gesture-controlled basketball game.

In the Paint: Arts and crafts area to create custom NBA-themed artwork.

Measure-Ups: Collection of life-sized player images, handprints and footprints for guests to measure themselves against their favorite stars.

Party Rooms: NBA-themed private rooms for birthday parties or special events.

Snack Bar: Food counter offering pizza, coffee, soft drinks and other light snacks. Parents can relax, grab a bite to eat and catch the latest NBA highlights and live games.

NBA Playzone Store: Offering an exclusive collection of NBA Playzone merchandise, as well as a wide selection of NBA oncourt and lifestyle apparel, footwear, headwear and basketballs for children and adults.

NBA Playzone is part of the NBA's continued commitment to enhance the fan experience in China. For more information, please visit www.nbaplayzone.com and follow NBA Playzone on WeChat account: NBAPlayzone. For all things NBA, visit www.china.nba.com and download the NBA App on china.nba.com/nbaapp.

About NBA China

The NBA's entity that conducts all of the league's businesses in greater China was formed in January 2008 after its first office opened in Hong Kong in 1992. The NBA has interacted with Chinese basketball for decades, including first hosting the Chinese National team in 1985. The NBA currently has relationships with a strong network of television and digital media outlets in China, including a partnership of more than 25 years with national broadcaster CCTV. The league hosts hundreds of touring basketball events for fans, conducts community enrichment programs, and maintains marketing partnerships with a combination of world-class China-based corporations and U.S.-based multinationals.

NBA China is headquartered in Beijing and also has offices in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Taipei. NBA licensed products such as apparel and footwear are available through various retail networks and authorized online stores on e-commerce and social media platforms, including Tmall.com, JD.com and WeChat. In 2004, the NBA became the first American professional sports league to play games in China, with two games between the Houston Rockets and the Sacramento Kings in Shanghai and Beijing.  The league has played a total of 20 games in China.