NBA Returns to China with Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns in Macau After Six-Year Ban

After a six-year hiatus, the NBA returned to China with two preseason games between the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns in Macau.

“NBA commissioner Adam Silver told AFP on Thursday that there was “tremendous interest” as the league returns to China after a six-year hiatus”

Macau Business

Several outlets describe this event as a major comeback for the league.

Macau Business

News18 notes the league officially returned to China after a six-year break, hosting its first-ever games in Macau at Macau’s Venetian arena.

CNN frames the event as the NBA resuming games in China after a six-year pause, marking a step toward restoring relations after years of strain.

Al Jazeera emphasizes that the games in Macau are part of a new multiyear partnership with Alibaba Group.

ABC highlights a return to normalcy with the Nets and Suns playing two games in Macau’s Venetian Arena.

The South China Morning Post provides an on-the-ground view, reporting that visitors began arriving in Macau ahead of the first NBA China Games in six years featuring the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns.

The return follows a rupture in 2019 when then-Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey tweeted support for Hong Kong protesters.

Multiple sources report that this tweet angered Beijing and triggered suspensions of NBA broadcasts and sponsorships.

South China Morning Post

CNN reports the fallout led to the suspension of NBA broadcasts and sponsorships in China.

News18 similarly recalls a freeze on NBA broadcasts and sponsorships and substantial financial losses.

Gamereactor UK notes that broadcasts have gradually resumed.

Evrim Ağacı stresses that despite the hiatus, the NBA remained committed to the Chinese market.

ABC adds context on the awkward 2019 visit with little fan engagement and no press events, underscoring how fraught the situation had become.

Commercial partnerships were central to the comeback.

“The NBA is officially back in China after a six-year hiatus, staging its first-ever games in Macau, marking a full-circle moment for the league after its dramatic fallout with Beijing in 2019”

News18

Asian and West Asian outlets underscore a five-year Macau venue deal.

News18 points to a new five-year partnership with casino operator Sands China.

Evrim Ağacı mentions a new five-year contract with Las Vegas Sands’ Macau unit.

At the same time, West Asian, Western Mainstream, and Other sources highlight technology tie-ups.

Al Jazeera says Alibaba Cloud will serve as the official cloud computing and AI partner of NBA China.

CNN notes the league recently partnered with Chinese tech giant Alibaba.

Gamereactor UK highlights a multi-year partnership with Chinese tech giant Alibaba.

Personalities also featured in the coverage.

Al Jazeera and Evrim Ağacı name Shaquille O’Neal and Nets owner Joseph Tsai, underscoring the event’s star power and corporate links.

Beyond the arena, sources highlight both opportunity and risk in China for the NBA.

CNN calls China the NBA’s “most important market outside the U.S.” with significant revenue potential.

Evrim Ağacı

The network describes the NBA’s return to China as a delicate challenge requiring sensitivity to politics.

News18 emphasizes the scale of the market, citing around 300 million basketball players and a large fanbase.

Gamereactor UK states that the NBA’s presence aims to ease strained US-China diplomatic relations.

ABC points out continuing difficulties, including ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions and criticism over the NBA’s stance on China’s human rights issues.

Local color from Macau contrasts with national and commercial narratives.

“NBA has returned to China for the first time since 2019, where two pre-season matches will take place this weekend in Macau between the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns”

Gamereactor UK

South China Morning Post reports tourists visited the NBA House exhibition at The Venetian Macau.

Gamereactor UK

Some business owners said the impact was slow to materialize and wanted better publicity next time.

ABC situates the games in Macao, a major gambling hub, noting support from figures like Nets owner Joe Tsai.

Al Jazeera and Evrim Ağacı highlight star presence such as Shaquille O’Neal and Chinese rookie Yang Hansen welcoming the return.

CNN underscores that live games let fans see players in person again.