The Golden State Warriors will be playing two of their 2022 preseason games in Japan as a part of an NBA initiative to bring the league and sport of basketball to the international stage. The league has always been inclined to helping grow the game, and the Warriors as one of the most innovative franchises in the league are obvious participants in such endeavors.

The Warriors last played internationally in China in 2017, playing their prior as well in 2013. They also played in Spain and France in the early 90s, and will now travel to Japan for just the 15th and 16th games in NBA history that have been played there.

The Warriors’ sponsor, Rakuten, is helping the NBA organize their international games in Japan, just as they helped organize and sponsor the games in China last in 2019. Fans in Japan will get the chance to see Warriors stars for at least a few minutes most likely when the Dubs travel to play the Wizards. Rakuten is also based in Tokyo, conducting their business operations from there since the company’s founding in 1997.

They will also be facing Wizards forward Rui Hachimura, the first Japanese player to be taken in the first round of the NBA draft after a great collegiate career at Gonzaga. Hachimura also played for the Japan national team in the Tokyo Olympics, representing his home country and putting up a very good 34-point performance in a loss during the Olympic prelims to a Luka Doncic-led Slovenia.

In addition to the games the Warriors play, the NBA generally hosts a number of events for their international games. It’s possible that Warriors players participate in said events, as the players headlining the league are very important to the NBA’s branding. In a star-centric league, it’s an excellent opportunity for the NBA to grow the international game by having people in other countries meet those stars who make the league so spectacular.

The Warriors will play their games in Saitama, Japan at the Saitama Super Arena on September 30th and October 2nd. As is the case with many of these international exhibitions, there will likely be some playing time for the stars so that fans can see the team’s mainstays. This Warriors team could also be fresh off an NBA championship next preseason, which would bring even more excitement to their arrival in the country.

(Photo credit: Jed Jacobsohn / AP Photo)