Sands China and the NBA Deliver Positive Community Impact Through the NBA China Games 2025

While the NBA China Games 2025 brought world-class basketball to Macao on Oct. 10 and Oct. 12, the weeklong festivities surrounding the games prioritized community engagement. Beginning Oct. 8, the NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week featured five days of high-impact events that united community members with some of the NBA’s brightest stars.

Hosted by NBA Cares and Sands Cares, Community Impact Week encompassed a basketball exchange at a local school, distribution of boxed lunches in the community, a community basketball carnival and the Her Time to Play clinic, a collaboration between the NBA and WNBA for girls ages 7-14.

Events included appearances by NBA legends Mitch Richmond, Tim Hardaway, Yao Ming, Shawn Marion and Deron Williams, along with players from NBA China Games teams, the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets.

“We extend heartfelt thanks to NBA Cares for their strong support, the passionate participation of NBA Legends and players, the enthusiastic cooperation of local service organizations and schools, and the wholehearted involvement of students and teachers from Macao and those who traveled from the Chinese Mainland,” Dr. Wilfred Wong, executive vice chairman of Sands China, said. “We also express deep gratitude to our Sands Cares Ambassadors and other volunteers for their selfless contributions. The collective efforts of all who were involved made this week more impactful and meaningful.”

The NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week kicked off Oct. 8 when NBA legend Richmond and NBA coaches provided basketball training and mentorship to 200 local high school students. The event also included 12 coaches and students who traveled to Macao from rural Guizhou and Inner Mongolia as part of the NBA Cares Her Time to Play initiative.

Richmond and Dr. Wong donated basketballs and training equipment to the Lou Hau High School on behalf of the NBA and Sands China to support continued development of its basketball program. The event concluded with an exciting five-on-five skills challenge.

On Oct. 9, Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets players led a basketball clinic for more than 60 high school and college students and the Her Time to Play participants. Players then joined Sands Cares Ambassadors to pack goodie bags and health kits for distribution in the local community.

Attendees included Adam Silver, NBA commissioner; Yao Ming, Naismith Memorial Hall of Famer and chairman of the Yao Foundation; Patrick Dumont, Sands president and chief operating officer; Dr. Wong; Grant Chum, Sands China chief executive officer and executive director; and Dave Sun, Sands China executive vice president and chief financial officer.

Continuing the week of community engagement on Oct. 10, NBA legend Hardaway, Sands China’s Chum, the Her Time to Play coaches, volunteers from the Yao Foundation and Sands Cares Ambassadors visited the Fuhong Society of Macau’s Pou Choi Centre, where they distributed boxed lunches and health kits to 200 local residents in need.

Next up, NBA Cares and Sands Cares hosted a community basketball carnival on Oct. 11 in the NBA House at The Venetian® Macao. The event welcomed 120 family members from local social service organizations to enjoy interactive sports-themed games and performances. NBA legend Marion shared in the basketball fun with participants, and Sands global ambassador David Beckham joined the event.

The Her Time to Play basketball clinic at the NBA House culminated the week of community engagement on Oct. 12. The event featured NBA legend Williams and WNBA player Myisha Hines-Allen who shared training tips, experiences and inspirational messages with girls’ basketball team members from Macao schools and the Her Time to Play participants. The event culminated in a five-on-five skills challenge.

“NBA Cares and Sands Cares have been outstanding partners for this five-day community impact initiative during the NBA China Games 2025,” Patrick Dumont, president and chief operating officer of Sands, said. “We are excited to see the positive effect in the community,

especially on local youth, children and those in need. We appreciate all who participated and gave their support.”

The NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week entrenched the NBA China Games 2025 in the Macao community, creating excitement and positive impact surrounding the preseason games at The Venetian Arena on Oct. 10 and 12. Events were representative of the impactful initiatives driven by the global Sands Cares community engagement program.

To learn about Sands Cares, visit https://www.sands.com/responsibility