This game will pit the league's two teams with international owners (Russian Mikhail Prokhorov owns the Nets).  This international game also explains why season ticket holders who recently renewed were only charged for 43 games rather than the traditional 44.

The Kings haven't played internationally in a long time, when they faced the Houston Rockets for two preseason games in 2004, also in China.

There had been some speculation when Ranadivé bought the team that the Kings might seek to play preseason games in India, but China makes more sense for now, as it's got the single largest basketball fanbase in the world.  I still wouldn't count out the Kings playing games over there in the near future.