The Nets will once again play two preseason games in China next October, part of Mikhail Prokhorov's global plan for the franchise, according to league sources. The announcement may be made as early as Sunday. The Nets will play one game each vs. the Kings, presumably in Beijing and Shanghai. The Kings are the only other NBA franchise owned by an international investor, Vivek Ranadive of India.
In 2010, shortly after Prokhorov bought the team, the Nets went around the world in preseason, stopping in Moscow for a practice, then flying on to Beijing and Shanghai for games with the Rockets before flying on to New York. No word on whether the Nets will stop in Russia again. The Nets would like to play regular season games in Prokhorov's hometown of Moscow, but there are no NBA-standard facilities in Russia.
The Nets have made a priority of globalization, particularly in Great Britain, Russia and China. The Nets played the Hawks in London this January. Brett Yormark has said the Nets' policy is to "raise our hands" when the league is looking for volunteers to go overseas.
The NBA regularly schedules preseason games in China. Last October, it was Lakers vs. Warriors.
Nets minority owner Bruce Ratner recently agreed to sell 70 percent of the remaining portion of Atlantic Yards, the development surrounding Barclays Center, to Greenland, a Chinese-owned real estate company.. In 2010, Ratner accompanied the team to China and marketed investment in Atlantic Yards to rich Chinese. Foreign investors can receive EB-5 visas in return for financing US projects.