After six years away, the NBA finally made its way back to China — and NBA fans couldn’t get enough. The games were the main event, sure, but the real talk of the weekend came from a few familiar faces who turned the trip into something unforgettable.
Yao Ming and Shaquille O’Neal — two giants in every sense — shared the frame with David Beckham and Jackie Chan, and that photo alone had social media in a frenzy.
“These two dudes look like they were grown in a lab…wtf,” one fan wrote.
These two dudes look like they were grown in a lab…wtf😂😂😂😂
— $Oscar | LFAI (@OCryptodollar) October 11, 2025
“I never thought Jackie was this short, or is it because the people near him are huge.”
“After the last Olympic pic with Steph & James, this is another historic legendary photo I can think of.”
This year marked the 15th NBA China Games, part of the league’s long-running effort to grow its global reach since 2004. Over the years, 28 preseason games have been held across the country. The Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets took the spotlight this time at the Venetian Arena in Macao, with the Suns taking the opener, 132–127, before the Nets edged the rematch, 111–109.
“That’s peak crossover energy”: NBA fans react to another all-star photo
Then came another internet-breaking shot — Jeremy Lin posing alongside Jackie Chan and David Beckham. Lin, who was also in Macao for the games, looked right at home next to the global icons.
“Bro pulled off the Asian Avengers photo. Jeremy Lin, Jackie Chan, and Beckham in one frame? That’s peak crossover energy, no CGI needed.”
“Richest man in China in the background too,” spotting Jack Ma in the distance.
Richest man in China in the background too😂
— Chris89 (@chriszheng1989) October 11, 2025
“Legendary Moment Captured.”
From Yao and Shaq’s reunion to Lin’s surprise cameo, the weekend felt like a perfect blend of hoops, pop culture, and nostalgia. For NBA fans in China, it wasn’t just a comeback — it was a celebration years in the making.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
