Kevin Durant has played in front of some of the loudest crowds in basketball, but the reception he received in Macao clearly meant something different.
During the Houston Rockets’ 135-117 preseason win over the Dallas Mavericks in the opening game of the 2026 NBA China Games, Durant was serenaded with “MVP” chants by the crowd at The Venetian Arena. Afterward, the 38-year-old said the appreciation stood out because of how openly the fans expressed it.
“It felt incredible,” Durant said. “Sometimes back at home, we play so many games in front of the same people, sometimes they take us for granted a little bit.”
Durant’s point was not criticism of NBA crowds as much as an appreciation for the different energy surrounding the China Games. The Rockets and Mavericks traveled more than 8,000 miles to Macao for a two-game preseason showcase, and Durant has been greeted by packed crowds throughout the trip, including fans waiting for autographs and wearing his jerseys.
“When you come out here and you get the appreciation and respect that you’ve earned as players that make it this far, it’s pretty cool, man,” Durant said.
Kevin Durant on getting MVP chants from the China crowd:
“It felt incredible. I mean, sometimes back at home, we play so many games in front of the same people, sometimes they take us for granted a little bit. When you come out here and you get the appreciation and respect that you’ve earned as players that make it this far is pretty cool man. They don’t get away from the excitement that they have around sports. They’re not shy to express that, and I love that. That’s who we are truly as in our souls is real fans of the game. So to see them express that is incredible”
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) October 9, 2026
The enthusiasm followed him onto the court.
Durant scored 15 points in just over 23 minutes, shooting 7-of-12 from the field while adding two assists and a block in Houston’s victory. He even asked to return in the second half after head coach Ime Udoka had initially planned to shut him down, wanting to stay on the floor while several of his teammates continued playing.
What Durant seemed to appreciate most, though, was the lack of restraint from the crowd.
“They’re not shy to express that, and I love that,” he said. “That’s who we are truly in our souls — real fans of the game. So to see them express that is incredible.”
The China Games have long been designed to bring NBA players closer to an international fan base that normally watches them from thousands of miles away. This year marks the 16th edition of the event, with Houston and Dallas scheduled to meet again Sunday in Macao.
