NBA: Rakuten, partner of the two pre-season games to be held in Japan on 30/09 and 02/10/2022

Rakuten, a Japanese group specialised in internet services (e-commerce, finance and digital content), has extended its partnership with the National Basketball Association to become the presenting partner of the two pre-season games (the "NBA Japan Games 2022 Presented by Rakuten") organised in Japan on 30/09 and 02/10/2022, announced the North American League on 15/03/2022.

The Washington Wizards, who have Japan's Rui Hachimura on their roster (in the NBA since 2019-20), and the Golden State Warriors, for whom Rakuten has been the jersey sponsor since 2017-18 (€17.4m/season), will play these two games at the Saitama Super Arena (37,000 capacity) in Saitama (JPN).

"The Warriors and Wizards will both be making their first visits to Japan," said the NBA, which has already hosted 12 regular season games in the country, in Saitama, Tokyo and Yokohama, between 1990 and 2003. "NBA games and programming have aired in Japan since the 1988-89," added the body.

"The NBA Japan Games 2022 Presented by Rakuten will livestream in Japan on the NBA Rakuten service (OTT) and will reach fans in more…