Brooklyn Nets host festive game to celebrate Chinese New Year

The Barclays Center lit up in red once again for Chinese New Year, turning a familiar NBA game night into a festive celebration.

Brooklyn Nets, the basketball team based in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, hosted their annual Chinese New Year game on Wednesday night, continuing a tradition that has become a fixture at the arena and with Brooklyn's diverse, vibrant community.

Chinese New Year games in the NBA have also taken place in other cities such as Chicago, Houston and San Francisco, and have expanded to other major sports leagues, including Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League, drawing both local fans and international fans from China.

For 14 years, the Nets' Chinese New Year game has transformed Barclays Center into a community space for cultural exchange. This year's celebration featured horse-themed decorations in honor of the Year of the Horse.

Chen Li, consul general of China in New York, attended the game and exchanged gifts with Sam Zussman, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the Brooklyn Nets.

Before the start of the game, the US national anthem was performed on a horsehead fiddle, a bowed instrument from the Mongolian ethnic tradition, adding a distinctive cultural touch to the night.

Nets players were wearing custom Chinese New Year shirts during warmups, and videos featuring Chinese New Year wishes from various players were shared on the screen, which resonated with the on-site audience.

"I love the decorations that they put here. Horses are fast. The Nets are. I hope they're going to go to the playoffs," Tayanna Morgan of the Bronx told China Daily. She said she wanted the horse to bring good luck to the team.

Morgan added that celebrating Chinese New Year makes the community feel more inclusive and welcoming.

"It means that everyone in the five boroughs, especially Brooklyn, who could come here to celebrate the Chinese New Year, can come and feel included here. That's really great that they celebrate this," she said.

Across the arena, fans experienced Chinese culture through familiar game-day moments. The halftime featured Chinese singer Liu Genhong, also known as Will Liu.

"I also enjoyed that they had a performer here who was from the Asian culture. That was really cool because I got to hear a performance from another language and another place," Morgan added.

International sports are increasingly blending cultural celebrations with market-driven collaborations.

The Barclays Center also featured an interactive booth with Chinese milk tea brand Molly Tea, marking the first time that a Chinese milk tea brand has been officially sold on-site at an NBA arena.

"This is the shortest line I've ever seen for this brand," said visitor Max Elendt, noting that wait times at the arena were far shorter than elsewhere in the city.

"I'm never really tempted by the food options here, but I was very excited to see bubble tea here," Connie Yu, also a Nets fan, told China Daily. "A lot of Chinese food has become more and more popular in the Western world, especially over the last couple of years."

Additionally, items inspired by the Chinese Zodiac and Brooklyn's distinctive street style were sold exclusively in the Nets' team store.

"It's fun to be here during this time," Jacob Babad of Queens told China Daily. He said celebrating Chinese New Year has become a tradition, and he brought his children and family to the Chinese New Year game.

"Just be more present," Linda Mash, a Nets fan, told China Daily. She said she enjoyed seeing the team fully immersed in the game while celebrating it in this way.

"Enjoying the time of year, another year, to celebrate the year of the horse," she added.

The Indiana Pacers beat the Brooklyn Nets 115 to 110. (Source: China daily)