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.