NBA: Saitama (Japan) will host two 2019-20 pre-season games in partnership with Rakuten

Rakuten, a group specialised in internet services, is activating its partnership with the National Basketball Association and is organising two 2019-20 pre-season games in Japan, announced the Japanese company on 05/03/2019. Rakuten is a global marketing partner of the NBA and has held the broadcasting rights in Japan for all live games since 09/10/2017.

The two Toronto Raptors - Houston Rockets games will be played at the Saitama Super Arena (37,000 capacity) in Saitama on 08 and 10/10/2019. These will be the 13^th and 14^th games to be played by the NBA in Japan. "Between 1990 and 2003, the league has staged 12 regular-season games in Saitama City, Tokyo and Yokohama. The match-up between the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz played in Tokyo 02/11/1990 was the first regular-season game played outside of North America by a US Sports league," said the NBA on 04/03/2019.

"With one of the world's largest economies and a thriving sports culture, we see enormous opportunity for growth in Japan, and we are pleased to partner with Rakuten to continue our tradition of bringing the live, authentic…