- The NBA Legends Celebrity Game, presented by Sands China, was held at The Venetian Macao in December.
- Two NBA preseason games have been scheduled for 2025 in Macau.
The NBA Legends Celebrity Game Presented by Sands China was held at the newly upgraded The Venetian Arena in early December. The event showcased the unique appeal of basketball with the participation of six NBA legends, well-known pop stars and internet celebrities.
The night’s competition featured two teams each composed of three NBA legends and nine celebrity stars and influencers.
Team Fire comprised NBA legends Stephon Marbury, Tracy McGrady and DeMarcus Cousins alongside celebrities Pakho Chau, Shawn Yue, Bright, Sunny Wang, Mandy Tam, Denny Sumargo, Xianchao Zhong, myd and Cao Fang.
Team Ice was formed by NBA legends Ray Allen, Tony Parker and Cuttino Mobley, who were joined by Keung To, Jam Hsiao, Wu Chun, MC Jin, Donny Pangilinan, Shin Wang, MoreFree, Michael Wu and Samuel Deguara.
The event began with a cheer battle dance performance and a slam dunk show featuring internationally famous slam dunkers. The quarter breaks were punctuated by a shooting challenge and a skills challenge. Fans were also treated to captivating entertainment from chart-topper Raymond Lam, Cantopop queen Sammi Cheng and Chinese-American rapper MC Jin.
Grant Chum, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Sands China Ltd, expressed his pride in hosting the NBA Legends Celebrity Game at the fully renovated The Venetian Arena, stating, “This game not only represents our dedication to sports entertainment, it also aligns with Sands’ commitment to integrate tourism and sports, creating unforgettable experiences for our guests from around the region and our local community.
“We look forward to hosting more exceptional events at our world-class destinations in Macau.”
In the main game, Team Ice triumphed over Team Fire by 109-83, with Parker earning the MVP title. In the shooting challenge, Team Fire secured a 4-0 victory over Team Ice, and in the skills challenge, Team Ice narrowly defeated Team Fire with a time of 50 seconds to 51 seconds.
On the day before the NBA Legends Celebrity Game, Sands China held a press conference at The Londoner Arena, announcing a multi-year collaboration with the NBA to bring NBA events back to Macau in 2025.
NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum, Las Vegas Sands (LVS) President and Chief Operating Officer and Dallas Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont, and Chum were in attendance.
Joining them on stage were Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment (BSE) Global Executive Vice President of Global Partnerships Catherine Carlson, Phoenix Suns Executive Vice President & Chief Revenue Officer Dan Costello, and NBA Legends Allen, Cousins, Marbury, McGrady, Mobley and Parker.
The press conference also revealed that the Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns will play two preseason games on Friday 10 October and Sunday 12 October 2025 at The Venetian Arena.
The Nets currently feature 2023 FIBA World Cup gold medalist Dennis Schröder (Germany), 2023 USA Basketball Men’s National Team member Cam Johnson (USA) and three-time NBA All-Star Ben Simmons (Australia). The Suns currently feature four-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant (USA), two-time Olympic gold medalist and four-time NBA All-Star Devin Booker (USA) and three-time NBA All-Star Bradley Beal (USA).
MSO athletes engage in sports exchange with NBA stars
Before the NBA Legends Celebrity Game, Sands China invited young athletes from the Macau Special Olympics (MSO) to participate in a basketball exchange event organized by NBA Cares at the Macau University of Science and Technology.
Accompanied by 20 Sands Cares Ambassadors, the young athletes engaged in sports exchanges with the NBA legends, honing their skills and gaining valuable insights.
Chum expressed that Sands China is privileged to collaborate with NBA Cares in bringing renowned basketball figures back to the Macau community. He emphasized that the company aims to foster inclusive environments, akin to NBA Cares, and motivates individuals from diverse backgrounds to engage in sports and display their skills. Chum highlighted that this community event exemplifies the unifying and inclusive nature of sports.
