Photos: Rockets, Warriors unveil Chinese New Year uniforms

The Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors will don specially designed uniforms to celebrate the Chinese New Year, the teamsannounced Monday. The Rockets

The Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors will don specially designed uniforms to celebrate the Chinese New Year, the teamsannounced Monday.

The Rockets will wear their jerseys for three games, the first coming on Feb. 21 against the Toronto Raptors.

Twitter.com/HoustonRockets

The Warriors will wear their jerseys four times, debuting them on Feb. 20 against the San Antonio Spurs.

Warriors.com

The Chinese New Year begins Feb. 19.

From NBA.com:

"The Lunar New Year uniforms represent a great opportunity to honor our incredibly loyal and passionate fans throughout China," said Houston Rockets Owner Leslie Alexander. "We are thrilled and humbled to establish the Lunar New Year uniforms as a way to honor the culture, heritage and historical and future connection we’ll always enjoy with our Chinese fans."

"It brings great joy to me to see the Houston Rockets honor one of my country’s most important traditions," commented Rockets legend Yao Ming, "Mr. Alexander and the Rockets have long embraced our culture and customs and made basketball fans in China a part of the Rockets community."

“We have been working with the NBA for two years now on our Chinese New Year uniforms to recognize the tremendous fan base that our Asian community represents,” said Warriors President and Chief Operating Officer Rick Welts. “Connecting with our Asian community is a priority for our organization and we are proud that we are going to be one of two teams in the NBA to debut a Chinese New Year themed uniform as a way to thank our fans here in the Bay Area and abroad in China.”

From Feb. 19 to March 4, the NBA will "pay tribute to its largest international fan base" by celebrating the Lunar New Year.