New Dallas Mavericks head coach Dusty May responds to questions fro the media during an introductory press conference at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, June 29, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
Three Octobers ago, but seemingly in a different lifetime, the Mavericks journeyed to Abu Dhabi and Madrid, playing three preseason games on two continents.
They rode camels in the Arabian Desert. They toured, in awe, the 82-dome Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. They escorted teammate Luka Doncic to some of his favorite Spanish hangouts.
Eight months later Dallas shocked the basketball world by storming to the NBA Finals.
Article continues below this ad
None of the above assures the Mavericks’ 8,100-mile Sunday flight to Macao, China, will propel them to another long playoff run, but contrary to conventional belief, this early globetrot shouldn’t impede their chances.
In fact, the added togetherness of two 16-hour flights; two preseason games against Houston; and cultural adventures during a week in Macao might help bond a team that has a new head coach, new staff and nine new players.
“I’ve always felt like when a team is together outside of your normal environment, it’s an opportunity for different guys to break bread together, to sit at a different meal table and get to know teammates or staff members,” coach Dusty May said.
“I think things like this are great. Obviously for the players it’s a long flight — and we’re very, very fortunate and grateful to be able to do it.”
The 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games foes, Dallas and Minnesota, cited the extra team-gelling as a key to success as they faced off in the late-May 2024 Western Conference finals.
Article continues below this ad
The 2026 NBA China Games, which will be played Friday and next Sunday in Macao, mark the Mavericks’ second visit to China, along with their 2018 preseason games against the Sixers in Shanghai and Shenzhen.
The circumstances surrounding this trip to China’s southern coast are far different, though. The games will be played in The Venetian Macao, owned and operated by Sands China, a subsidiary of Las Vegas Sands Corporation — whose chairman and CEO is Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont.
That makes these pseudo-home games for the Mavericks, whose travel party will be hosted in one of Sands’ five opulent resort casinos in Macao — a 13-square-mile special administrative region of China. It’s the only part of China with legalized casino gambling.
It was Sands and Dumont who largely brokered the return of the NBA China Games, starting with last year’s two Brooklyn-Phoenix preseason games.
Those games ended a five-year hiatus following then-Rockets general manager Daryl Morey’s supportive tweet during the 2019-20 Hong Kong protests of a proposed extradition bill. Many Hong Kong residents feared the bill would enable their detainment by mainland Chinese officials despite Hong Kong’s two-decade autonomy.
Article continues below this ad
“Credit to Patrick and ownership,” said Masai Ujiri, whom Dumont named Mavericks president and alternate governor in May. Pausing with a smile, Ujiri jokingly wondered if he allowed to describe Macao “as a place that belongs to all of us.
“That’s going to be truly special, in my mind. Camaraderie. Bringing the team together. The journey there. The journey back. The time spent there. The cultures you are learning there. … These are things, and education, that have carved a lot of our lives.”
Some Mavericks have been to China. Forward PJ Washington said he visited Shanghai this summer and was shocked by the city’s architecture and population density.
Guard Kyrie Irving has been to China numerous times, including on promotional tours for his shoe brand, ANTA.
Cooper Flagg, 19, played in Spain in the FIBA Under-17 World Cup in 2022 as a star on Team USA’s gold medal-winning team. Playing in Asia, though, will be a new experience. Noting that Macao is 13 hours ahead of Dallas, he wondered how often Chinese fans get to watch Mavericks games.
Article continues below this ad
“I think it’ll be really cool to play in a new environment, new crowd, new fans,” he said. “And obviously it’s a good opportunity for all of us individually to build our brands.
“It’s an incredible market over there — and as a team, too, to make the Mavericks popular around the world. That’s a goal that we can do.”
It’s highly doubtful there will be camel rides, but cultural opportunities await. Macao is globally knows as the Las Vegas of Asia. It was a Portugese colony for more than 400 years, until it was returned to China in 1999, so its food, architecture and culture are a blend of both countries.
Flagg said the Mavericks’ itinerary includes a potential excursion to Hong Kong, which is about 38 miles from Macao, across the Pearl River estuary. Naturally, Sands China’s high-speed ferry, Cotai Water Jet, makes the trip in an hour, cruising at top speeds of 42 knots.
Between training camp practices to prepare for Friday’s opener, the week will be filled with NBA Cares and Sands Cares fan events, most of them at The Venetian Arena and adjoining Venetian Macao resort.
Article continues below this ad
Perhaps a glimpse of some of the elements the Mavericks hope to incorporate in their planned arena and 104-acre entertainment district on the former site of Valley View Mall?
The notable differences, of course, are that gambling isn’t legal in Texas, and a 16-hour flight won’t be required for Mavericks fans in North Texas to attend home games.
Washington said the only part of this trip he’s not looking forward to are the flights, although those, too, will be made as luxurious and comfortable as possible for the travel party.
“I’m a small guy,” said May, who is about 5-10. “To be honest I’ve always enjoyed flying. I have a high level of concentration on flights.
Article continues below this ad
“They bring the meals and set them right in your lap. So there will be no complaints.”