NBA in talks to see games return to Shanghai

Shanghai may get to welcome back the NBA's preseason games in the fall, after the city has endured a three-year break from the spotlight, Adam Silver, deputy commissioner of the National Basketball Association told US media.

Silver said that the NBA is negotiating with retired Houston Rockets superstar Yao Ming - now the owner of Shanghai Sharks basketball team - about having the games return.

"I was in Shanghai two weeks ago, and I attended a Shanghai Sharks game together with Yao," Silver told ESPN on Sunday. "We also met with municipal government (authorities), and we are in discussions now about bringing the game back, hopefully to the Mercedes-Benz Arena."

In 2004, the NBA brought the preseason event to China, with annual games between the Rockets and Sacramento Kings in Shanghai, until 2008.

For 2009 and 2010, the capital took over as host before the games were cancelled last year due to the NBA strike in August.