LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers will play a pair of exhibition games against the Brooklyn Nets in China later this year ahead of the 2019-20 National Basketball Association (NBA) season, the league said on Monday.
The Lakers, 16-time champions, and Nets will play in Shanghai on October 10 followed by a game in Shenzhen on October 12, extending the trend of NBA squads competing in China.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James follows through on a dunk against the Denver Nuggets. Photo: AP
The games will mark the Lakers’ second trip to China following their initial visit in 2013, while the Nets will be playing in China for the third time after visits in 2010 and 2014.
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Since 2004, 17 NBA teams have played 26 games in Beijing, Guangzhou, Macao, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Taipei.
The Lakers have not made the play-offs since 2013 but will surely be a draw given a roster that features three-time NBA champion James.
