Over 400 youths, players, and sports executives gathered at The Venetian Arena on Thursday for the official Tip-Off event of the "NBA Cares x Sands Cares Community Impact Week 2026". This outreach initiative brought together current roster players from the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets, alongside NBA legends Yao Ming and Shawn Marion.

Activities included dream-sharing sessions, a basketball clinic for local championship students from Keang Peng School and Colégio Dom Bosco (Yuet Wah), and a joint goodie bag packing drive for local charity distribution. Organisational leaders emphasized using major athletic fixtures to drive local social progress and youth engagement.

Patrick Dumont, chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp. and governor of the Dallas Mavericks, stated, "For us, the value of major international sporting events extends well beyond what takes place inside the arena. Their lasting significance lies in their ability to contribute to social progress and the development of the city."

Addressing the participating youth, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver highlighted the broader personal values cultivated through sports. He said, "Basketball teaches teamwork, respect, and discipline, and these are lessons that can help you achieve whatever goals you set for yourselves in life, not just in basketball. My message to all of you is to dream big."

Highlighting the cross-cultural significance of the gathering, Rockets leadership pointed to the enduring impact of basketball icons in bridging communities. Patrick Fertitta, vice chairman of the Houston Rockets, expressed delight in joining the Mavericks and the wider NBA community in Macau, stating, "not only to celebrate the game of basketball, but also to demonstrate how sport can inspire young people."

Following the outreach program, both franchises held pre-game training sessions ahead of their opening exhibition matchup at The Venetian Arena on Friday, October 9, which will be followed by a second preseason game at the same venue on Sunday, October 11.