The NBA is set to return to China with two preseason games scheduled in Macau in October 2025, marking the league’s first return to the region since 2019. This comes after a five-year hiatus sparked by a controversial tweet from Daryl Morey, the then-Houston Rockets general manager, who voiced support for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. The incident triggered a severe backlash from China, which led to the suspension of NBA games in the country. China cut ties with the league, removing NBA broadcasts from Chinese television and significantly hurting the league’s business in the region.
The announcement of the 2025 preseason games was made by NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum at a press conference in Macau. The games will feature the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns, and will take place at the Sands Venetian Arena on October 10 and October 12. The league’s decision to host the games in Macau a special administrative region of China reflects the improved relationship between the NBA and China in recent years. Macau, which is known as the “Las Vegas of Asia” due to its thriving gambling industry, is one of the few regions in China that has not been heavily impacted by the diplomatic fallout.
During the press conference, Tatum expressed enthusiasm about bringing NBA games back to a region with a strong basketball following. “This region is home to some of the most passionate NBA fans in the world,” he said. Macau’s Sands Venetian Arena is a significant venue, and its association with the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, which also has ties to the NBA through the Dallas Mavericks’ majority owners, adds further significance to the return of the NBA to China.
The NBA’s relationship with China, which had been severely strained after the 2019 incident, has improved in part due to the efforts of Michael Ma, who was appointed CEO of NBA China in 2020. The league hopes that the agreement to hold two annual preseason games in Macau over the next five years will strengthen its presence in Asia once again, with both the NBA and Sands Corporation excited about the potential for growth and collaboration.
For basketball fans in China, the return of NBA games is seen as a positive development, especially given that basketball remains immensely popular across the country. In Beijing, fans welcomed the news with optimism. “Since NBA games have been absent from China for quite a while, their return would be very beneficial for amateur basketball fans to experience the highest level of competition,” said Zhou Dacheng, a 32-year-old fan. “I often visit Macau, and I definitely plan to go watch these games,” he added.
However, some fans remain cautious and skeptical about the NBA’s full return to the mainland. While Macau is geographically close to China, it is still distinct in terms of its political and economic status. “Can only go to Macau… this relationship has not been repaired at all,” remarked one Beijing-based user on social media, expressing doubt that NBA games would return to the mainland anytime soon.
The NBA’s efforts to re-enter the Chinese market also come amid broader global expansion strategies. Recently, the league has sought to increase its international footprint by staging games in various regions, including the Middle East, with preseason games held in Abu Dhabi. The NBA’s commissioner, Adam Silver, has indicated that the league intends to eventually bring games back to mainland China, despite the lingering political tensions that arose from the 2019 incident. At a sports management conference in October 2024, Silver acknowledged the challenges of the NBA’s relationship with China but emphasized the league’s commitment to standing by its values. “We accepted that [the suspension] and stood by our values,” he said, referring to the fallout from the Morey tweet.
Historically, China has been a significant market for the NBA. From 2004 to 2019, the league hosted 28 preseason games across 17 teams in China, a reflection of the country’s deep basketball culture. In the years following the suspension, however, the NBA’s presence in the region has been reduced. Despite this, the NBA is now cautiously optimistic about rebuilding its relationship with China, starting with the upcoming games in Macau.
The decision to host these preseason games marks a tentative but hopeful step in the NBA’s ongoing efforts to navigate the complexities of international relations while maintaining its global brand. The league’s return to China, albeit to Macau rather than the mainland, signals a potential reopening of doors to the world’s largest sports market, even as the NBA continues to balance its values with the realities of international diplomacy.
