The NBA is set to stage two pre-season games in Macau in October 2025, marking its return to China after being absent for over five years. The Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns will play at the Venetian Arena on October 10 and 12, announced NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum during a press conference in Macau.
Details of the Incident
The NBA’s absence in China dates back to 2019 when a tweet from then-Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey supporting pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong sparked a diplomatic fallout. The tweet, which featured the slogan “Stand with Hong Kong,” led to China severing ties with the league. Despite Morey’s subsequent apology and deletion of the tweet, the league defended his right to free speech, resulting in NBA games being pulled off Chinese television for years.
Background and Renewed Collaboration
Basketball is immensely popular in China, but the fallout caused significant financial losses for the NBA. The relationship began to improve after the hiring of NBA China Chief Executive Michael Ma in 2020. ESPN reports that the games in Macau are part of a multimillion-dollar agreement to host two pre-season matches annually over five years.
Macau, a special administrative region known for its vibrant gambling industry, is hosting the games under its “one country, two systems” framework. Patrick Dumont, CEO of Las Vegas Sands—the owner of the Venetian Arena and part of the Dallas Mavericks’ ownership group—hailed the collaboration as a milestone.
Fan Reactions and Broader Implications
Basketball fans in Beijing expressed excitement about the NBA’s return, with many planning to attend the games in Macau. However, some social media users remain skeptical about games returning to the Chinese mainland, suggesting the relationship between the NBA and China remains strained.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed optimism about returning to China in the future, reiterating the league’s commitment to its values. “We stood by our values,” Silver said, referencing the 2019 incident.
With the league also expanding its global footprint through events in Abu Dhabi and partnerships like the Emirates Airlines sponsorship of the NBA Cup, the return to China is seen as a critical step in restoring ties with one of basketball’s largest fanbases.
From 2004 to 2019, China hosted 28 NBA pre-season games across 17 teams, demonstrating its role as a key market for the sport. Meanwhile, Macau’s economic reliance on gambling underscores the strategic significance of hosting high-profile international events to diversify its economy.
