Prime Highlights
- The NBA staged a Rising Stars Invitational and investor conference in Singapore as part of its Southeast Asia expansion push.
- Regional fan numbers grew 15% in three years, while NBA Asia social media video views rose 88% year-on-year.
Key Facts
- The NBA Launchpad programme, launched in 2021, identifies and pilots emerging technologies aimed at improving the game and fan experience.
- The NBA returns to Macao in October for Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets preseason games.
Background
A week after the New York Knicks won the 2026 Championship against the San Antonio Spurs, the NBA decided to move its focus towards Southeast Asia through a tournament of rising stars and an investment forum in Singapore.
The Rising Stars Invitational features the best high school basketball teams from all around Asia. The most successful players are invited to attend further NBA camps. The accompanying investor conference signals the league’s intent to expand its business footprint in the region.
Southeast Asia has emerged as one of the NBA’s fastest-growing markets. The league said basketball is the most-played sport in the Philippines, while regional fans grew by 15% in three years through the first quarter of 2026. Video views across NBA Asia’s social media platforms rose 88% year-on-year, and follower counts nearly doubled during the 2025-26 season.
NBA Vice President for Southeast Asia Sheila Rasu said basketball is the fastest-growing sport in the region, noting strong participation in Singapore and a growing base of young players in Indonesia. She added that the sport is gaining traction among girls as well.
The league also announced a strategic expansion of its NBA Launchpad programme in Asia. Launched in 2021, the initiative identifies emerging technologies to improve the game and fan experience.
Former NBA champion Jeremy Lin, the first Asian American to win the title, attended the Singapore events and expressed enthusiasm for the sport’s growth in Asia, saying he wants to give back to the game and build basketball in a region where he has roots.
The NBA is separately rebuilding its presence in Greater China after a years-long absence. The Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets are scheduled to play preseason games in Macao in October.
