Jason Richardson to tip off sixth annual NBA Chinese New Year Celebration

Former NBA player and two-time Slam Dunk Champion Jason Richardson will visit China from Jan 9?to 14 to tip off the NBA's sixth annual NBA Chinese New Year Celebration with millions of Chinese fans.

This year's celebration, which will run from Jan 27 to Feb 12, will pay tribute to Chinese culture and the league's largest international fanbase.

As part of the NBA Chinese New Year Celebration Season of Giving initiative presented by Dongfeng Nissan, Richardson will travel to Shanghai, Nanning in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Haikou in Hainan province and Hong Kong to conduct NBA Cares activities in each city.

Richardson will lead a basketball clinic for Special Olympic athletes at the NBA Playzone in Shanghai on Jan 9. He will travel to Nanning on Jan 11 to host a Chinese New Year reunion meal with underprivileged students from a local school in a kitchen and dining hall donated by the NBA and then go to Haikou on Jan 13, where he will dedicate a basketball court donated by the NBA and conduct a basketball clinic with students from a local elementary school. Richardson will make his final stop in Hong Kong on Jan 14 to celebrate the festival with underprivileged kids at a local charitable organization.

"I am excited to be part of the NBA's sixth annual Chinese New Year festivities," said Richardson. "I look forward to meeting the fans in Shanghai, Nanning, Haikou and Hong Kong and celebrating the Year of the Rooster with them."

Richardson, a 6'6'' guard/forward from Saginaw, Mich., was selected 5th overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 2001 NBA Draft. During his 13-year NBA career, Richardson played for the Warriors, Charlotte Bobcats (now Charlotte Hornets), Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers before officially retiring in 2015. Richardson was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2002 and is a two-time NBA Slam Dunk Champion (2002 and 2003).

The NBA's sixth annual NBA Chinese New Year Celebration will feature a wide range of initiatives and fan engagement activities. Details will be announced at a later date.