The “NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week” officially launches Thursday at The Venetian Arena with a ceremony, in celebration of The NBA China Games 2025 being hosted in Macao. The week’s series of events brought NBA Legends and current players into the community, using basketball as a bridge to foster compassion and connection. Players from the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets, students from Lou Hau High School, Sheng Kung Hui Choi Kou School (Macau), and Yuet Wah College Macau, and rural coaches and students from the “Her Time to Play” initiative attended the ceremony.
The NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week officially launched Thursday at The Venetian Arena, in celebration of The NBA China Games 2025 on Oct. 10 and 12 at the same venue.
This meaningful collaboration between NBA Cares and Sands Cares brought together NBA Legends – including Mitch Richmond, Tim Hardaway, Yao Ming, Shawn Marion, and Deron Williams – as well as current players from the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets.
The week-long initiative used basketball as a universal language to promote compassion, unity, and community spirit throughout Macao.
The impact week featured a range of community-driven events, such as a basketball exchange at a local school, community lunch distribution, a basketball carnival, and the “Her Time to Play” clinic.
These activities aimed to inspire local youth, encourage healthy lifestyles, and strengthen community ties.
Patrick Dumont, presidente e diretor de operações da Las Vegas Sands Corp., faz um discurso na cerimónia de abertura da «NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week» na quinta-feira, na The Venetian Arena.
Adam Silver, comissário da NBA, discursa na cerimónia de abertura da «NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week» na quinta-feira, na Venetian Arena.
Patrick Dumont, President and Chief Operating Officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp., said: “Being an active community partner in Macao has been a staple of our efforts here since the opening of Sands Macao in 2004. For more than 20 years, our company and our team members have made giving back to this community – which is full of great culture, tradition and generosity – among our most important priorities.
“We are delighted to bring this five-day impact week alongside The NBA China Games in Macao, extending care to local youth and those in need. We believe the positive effect of this week on the community and Macao’s reputation as a global destination for leisure and business tourism will be tremendous. We sincerely thank everyone for their enthusiastic support and participation in the impact week events.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver remarked: “The NBA China Games will take place tomorrow and Sunday. Today, we invited young people to gather at a top-level venue, The Venetian Arena, to learn from accomplished players and Legends. We hope all participants enjoy this sports exchange and find inspiration through it. We thank Sands China for making these games and events a reality, and we appreciate the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets for making their Macao trip as they prepare for the season.”
Players from the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets and NBA coaches run a basketball clinic for students from Lou Hau High School, Sheng Kung Hui Choi Kou School (Macau), and Yuet Wah College Macau, as well as coaches and students from the “Her Time to Play” initiative at the tip-off ceremony of the “NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week” Thursday at The Venetian Arena.
Players from the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets and NBA coaches run a basketball clinic for students from Lou Hau High School, Sheng Kung Hui Choi Kou School (Macau), and Yuet Wah College Macau, as well as coaches and students from the “Her Time to Play” initiative at the tip-off ceremony of the “NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week” Thursday at The Venetian Arena.
Players from the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets and NBA coaches run a basketball clinic for students from Lou Hau High School, Sheng Kung Hui Choi Kou School (Macau), and Yuet Wah College Macau, as well as coaches and students from the “Her Time to Play” initiative at the tip-off ceremony of the “NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week” Thursday at The Venetian Arena.
Players from the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets and NBA coaches run a basketball clinic for students from Lou Hau High School, Sheng Kung Hui Choi Kou School (Macau), and Yuet Wah College Macau, as well as coaches and students from the “Her Time to Play” initiative at the tip-off ceremony of the “NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week” Thursday at The Venetian Arena.
The launch ceremony gathered distinguished guests, including Yao Ming; Mark Tatum, deputy commissioner of the NBA; Kathy Behrens, president of social responsibility and player programs for the NBA; Andre Iguodala, executive director of the NBPA; Micheal Ma, CEO of NBA Asia Pacific; Wayne Chang, managing director of NBA Asia; Patrick Dumont; and Sands China executives Dr. Wilfred Wong, Grant Chum, and Dave Sun.
As part of the event, players from the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets led a basketball clinic for 60 local students, including participants from the “Her Time to Play” programme
They also joined Sands Cares Ambassadors in assembling goodie bags and health kits for the community, marking a heartwarming close to the launch.
In addition, NBA House made its Macao debut at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Expo Hall A. The interactive fan event offers an immersive basketball experience combining music, fashion, and technology from Oct. 8 until Oct. 12 with appearances by NBA Legends such as Shaquille O’Neal and Stephon Marbury.
Os jogadores do Phoenix Suns juntam-se aos Embaixadores da Sands Cares e a professores e alunos locais para preparar sacolas com brindes e kits de saúde na cerimónia de abertura da «NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week» na quinta-feira, na The Venetian Arena, enviando votos calorosos à comunidade.
Os jogadores do Phoenix Suns juntam-se aos Embaixadores da Sands Cares e a professores e alunos locais para preparar sacolas com brindes e kits de saúde na cerimónia de abertura da «NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week» na quinta-feira, na The Venetian Arena, enviando votos calorosos à comunidade.
Patrick Dumont (segundo da esquerda), presidente e diretor de operações da Las Vegas Sands Corp., junta-se aos jogadores do Phoenix Suns e do Brooklyn Nets, professores e alunos locais e embaixadores da Sands Cares para preparar sacolas com brindes e kits de saúde na cerimónia de abertura da "NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week" na quinta-feira, na The Venetian Arena.
Impact week events:
Oct. 10 (Friday) – Lunchbox packing and delivery to community
- NBA Legend Tim Hardaway, students and coaches from “Her Time to Play,” volunteers from the Yao Foundation, and Sands Cares Ambassadors visited the Pou Choi Centre of Fuhong Society of Macao and delivered lunchboxes to the underprivileged in the city.
Oct. 11 (Saturday) – Community basketball carnival
- The carnival combines various sports-themed games and exciting performances at the NBA House. NBA Legend Shawn Marion played basketball with members of local NGOs.
Oct. 12 (Sunday) – “Her Time to Play” clinic
- NBA Legend Deron Williams and WNBA player Myisha Hines-Allen led a clinic at NBA House, sharing insights with students from Macao and the “Her Time to Play” initiative, culminating in a five-on-five skills challenge to close the impact week.
These activities, along with other community initiatives by Sands China, are part of the Sands Cares global corporate citizenship programme. With Sands China being an important stakeholder in the local community, the programme is an influential tool that illustrates the company’s unwavering commitment to contribute to society, serving as an important connection between Sands China and local residents.
