NBA Returns to China for First Time Since Hong Kong Controversy
Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns to play in Macau, marking a thaw in tensions between the NBA and China
NBA Back in China After Six-Year Hiatus Marked by Political Tensions
For the first time in six years, the National Basketball Association (NBA) is returning to Chinese soil — a moment that not only signals the resumption of basketball diplomacy but also reflects a slow reconciliation following a politically charged standoff.
This week, the Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns will face off in two preseason games at The Venetian Macao, a luxury resort in the gambling hub of Macau, which, like Hong Kong, is a special administrative region of China.
The event marks the NBA’s first fixture in China since 2019, when a tweet from a team executive sparked a geopolitical firestorm that saw China freeze out the league from state broadcasts and digital platforms.
The Fallout That Froze NBA-China Relations
In 2019, Daryl Morey, then-general manager of the Houston Rockets, posted a message on social media expressing support for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. The now-deleted tweet read, “Fight For Freedom. Stand With Hong Kong,” and quickly drew backlash from Chinese authorities and fans alike.
Despite attempts to contain the fallout — with the NBA expressing regret for offending its Chinese audience — Beijing responded with a near-total suspension of NBA broadcasts and partnerships in the country. The move had significant financial consequences: NBA China, the league’s commercial arm in the country, was valued at around $5 billion in 2022, according to ESPN.
A Slow and Quiet Reconciliation
The return of NBA games to Chinese screens began gradually over the past few years, but this week’s preseason matchups mark the first in-person NBA event in China since the controversy. And for many Chinese basketball fans, it’s been a long time coming.
“We’d been preparing and planning for this two months in advance,” said Lyu Yizhe, a lifelong NBA fan who traveled from Xiamen to Macau. “It feels extra special because we’ve been watching since 1998, back in the Michael Jordan and Chicago Bulls era.”
Another fan, Mole Zeng from Hangzhou, expressed hope for a future where more NBA stars visit China. “I believe that in the future, as the NBA continues to grow in China, more and more star players will come here to meet us in person.”
A Strategic Partnership: NBA x Alibaba
This renewed engagement comes on the heels of a multi-year partnership between the NBA and Chinese tech giant Alibaba, announced in late 2024. The collaboration will focus on content, e-commerce, and fan engagement.
Notably, the Brooklyn Nets, one of the teams playing in Macau, are owned by Joseph Tsai, the executive vice chair and co-founder of Alibaba. His unique position straddling both the business and basketball worlds may have played a pivotal role in smoothing over tensions and re-establishing NBA-China ties.
Why Macau?
The choice of Macau as the host city for the NBA’s return is symbolically and logistically significant. Though part of China, Macau — like Hong Kong — operates under a separate legal and economic system. The city last hosted an NBA game in 2007, but its infrastructure and global profile make it an attractive venue for high-profile international sports.
The decision also allows the NBA to navigate the complex political sensitivities surrounding Hong Kong without compromising its presence in the Chinese market.
Basketball’s Enduring Popularity in China
Despite the political freeze, basketball remains one of China’s most beloved sports. The NBA has long had a massive following in the country, dating back to the early 2000s when Chinese basketball star Yao Ming was drafted by the Houston Rockets. At its peak in 2019, the NBA estimated that over 300 million people in China regularly played basketball.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has emphasized the league’s long-term commitment to its Chinese audience. Speaking to AFP, he said there remains “tremendous interest in the NBA throughout China,” and that the league aims to foster cultural and sporting exchange through events like these.
A Diplomatic and Financial Play
The NBA’s return to China comes amid a broader backdrop of Washington-Beijing tensions, ranging from trade disputes to cybersecurity and geopolitics. In this context, the resumption of basketball ties could serve as a modest diplomatic bridge — a reminder that soft power and sports diplomacy still hold sway, even in turbulent times.
For the NBA, it’s also a strategic financial move. China remains one of the league’s largest overseas markets, and the ability to host live games not only boosts viewership but also reopens avenues for sponsorship, merchandise, and media rights.
What Comes Next?
While this week’s games in Macau are just preseason exhibitions, they may signal something much larger: the normalization of NBA operations in China, or at least the beginning of a new chapter. Whether future regular-season games or All-Star events will follow remains uncertain, but the appetite from fans is clearly there.
As the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns take the court this weekend, the spotlight will not only be on the game — but on what it represents: a fragile but hopeful step toward rebuilding a once-lucrative and deeply emotional connection between the NBA and its millions of Chinese fans.
