The Very Best Basketball Arenas in Asia

Asian basketball is at an all-time high. Throughout the continent, fans and players alike are more active with the sport than ever before. Amateur leagues are going professional, arenas are selling out, and fans are wagering on their favorite teams more than ever before. There’s simply never been a better time to follow the sport in Asia.

That being said, remote and live experiences are quite different. Those who watch the CBA, PBA, or KBL from home have the option of wagering on events. The latest betting bonuses from sportsbooks can be used as a way to back an underdog while minimizing the risk of a loss. Given how exciting basketball games are, betting on outcomes like totals is particularly engaging.

Still, there’s nothing quite like packing into an arena to watch a major bout between players like Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian. As basketball becomes more mainstream and leagues like the CBA, PBA, KBL, ABL, and BLeague become more prominent, so does the fan experience. Around Asia, new and cutting-edge arenas are being built or adapted for basketball teams.

But which locations come out ahead in terms of ultimate fun, legacy, and scope? Let’s take a closer look.

Nanjing Youth Olympic Sports Park (Nanjing, China)

Nanjing has been a known quantity in Asian basketball since 2019. Back then, one of the arenas in this vast Olympic complex hosted the FIBA Basketball World Cup. It was a riveting World Cup series in which heavyweights like the US and Russia failed to advance to the semi-finals.

This exciting atmosphere culminated when the arena, which can fit almost 20,000, was nearly filled for group stages. Though this stadium isn’t overly advanced—especially not compared to others on this list—it’s part of a much larger complex. This adds a larger-than-life feeling for those who enter to watch the Nanjing Monkey Kings compete in the CBA.

Wukesong Arena (Beijing, China)

Heading back to the same FIBA Basketball World Cup of 2019, anyone who attended probably remembers Wukesong Arena in Beijing, which hosted the finals series. In fact, this is the stadium where Spain triumphed in a 95-75 win. But for locals, it’s better known as the home of the Beijing Ducks.

Compared to the home of crosstown rivals, the Beijing Royal Fighters over at the city’s Olympic Sports Center, Wukesong is all about home-court pride. Though it was also constructed for the Summer Olympic Games back in 2008, the stadium was built specifically with basketball in mind. That means that fans of the Ducks have an unprecedented and catered fan experience that’s on par with the NBA or EuroLeague.

But what makes this venue cool is the fact that it can double as an ice hockey, a baseball field, or even a concert venue, which has hosted names like Kanye West, Metallica, and Jessie J.

SM Mall of Asia Arena (Manila, Philippines)

When it comes to basketball in Asia, most of the uninitiated would probably think that China takes the lion’s share of headlines and fans. However, the Philippines’ PBA has been around a lot longer. In fact, it’s second only to the NBA in terms of time running. And when it comes to catching a PBA game in the Philippines, the place to be is Manila.

The Pasay neighborhood is home to the SM Mall of Asia Arena, a modern project that’s used by the PBA whenever the Big Dome isn’t available. This isn’t the home court of any single PBA team. Instead, it’s mostly used for opening games, the PBA Governors Cup, and even NCAA tournaments that take place in the Philippines and the Southeast Asian Games.

In fact, back in 2019, the Philippine Men’s National Team took home its 13th gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games at the Mall of Asia Arena. Not only was this a home-turf win for the Gilas Pilipinas, but it was also one of the most-attended basketball events ever hosted in the arena.