The NBA is back in China, and the excitement is palpable. After a six-year absence marked by political controversy and uncertainty, the league’s return is making headlines across the basketball world. This week, the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns are set to face off in two sold-out preseason games at the Venetian Arena in Macao, marking the NBA’s first games on Chinese soil since 2019. For millions of Chinese fans, it’s a long-awaited reunion with a beloved sport, and for the league itself, it’s a crucial opportunity to reconnect with one of its largest and most passionate markets.
The anticipation for these games is sky-high. Tickets have been snapped up at record prices, with some fans, like university student Buke Liu, shelling out nearly $1,000 for the chance to witness the action in person. "It’s worth it. They are playing in China," Liu told CNN, his excitement echoing that of countless others who have been waiting years for this moment. For many, the games represent far more than just preseason matchups—they’re a symbol of the NBA’s resilience and its enduring popularity in a country where basketball is king.
It hasn’t been an easy road to get here. The NBA’s absence from China began in 2019, when a tweet from then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey supporting pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong triggered a firestorm. Beijing responded by suspending NBA broadcasts and pulling sponsorships, leaving the league to weather dramatic financial consequences and a strained relationship with one of its most lucrative markets. Corporate sponsors fled, and preseason games were cancelled, casting doubt on whether the NBA would ever return in full force.
But the league’s leadership never lost sight of the importance of China to its global ambitions. NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum underscored the league’s commitment, saying, "I think it’s very important for us to be able to bring the live game experience, including live games, to as many fans of the NBA around the world. And there’s no doubt that China has one of the largest fanbases in the world—hundreds of millions of fans in China, 300 million people play the game of basketball in China, and our mission is to inspire and connect people everywhere through the game of basketball."
Now, with the Nets and Suns taking the court in Macao, the NBA is not just staging games—it’s making a statement. The Venetian Arena, owned by Las Vegas Sands Corp., is buzzing with anticipation, and the league has announced that two more games are planned for China next season. The five-year contract with Sands’ Macau unit signals a renewed commitment to the Chinese market, with hopes that the return will be smooth and mutually beneficial.
Adding to the excitement is the presence of NBA celebrities like Shaquille O’Neal, who are attending the festivities, and the participation of Nets owner Joe Tsai, chairman of Chinese tech giant Alibaba. The NBA’s relationship with Alibaba has grown even stronger, as the league and the e-commerce giant just announced a multiyear partnership. Alibaba will provide artificial intelligence and cloud computing services to the NBA, enhancing fan experiences on the NBA app in China and solidifying its role as the official cloud computing and AI partner of NBA China.
For the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns, this trip is about more than basketball. Suns coach Jordan Ott remarked, "Obviously, we know this is great for the Phoenix Suns and our community, our whole organization and the NBA." Nets guard Jared Butler added, "I think it’s a beautiful thing just for the experience. Me, I’ve never been to China and I know a lot of guys haven’t been to China. So, experiencing something new with your guys is going to just be a bonding moment."
The games’ symbolic significance isn’t lost on the fans or the league. The NBA’s popularity in China is legendary—before the 2019 fallout, nearly 500 million people were tuning in to watch league content, according to Tencent. Viral videos show the sport’s reach extending even to rural villages, and reality shows like Dunk of China have only fueled the basketball craze. The league estimates that around 300 million people play basketball in China, a staggering figure that dwarfs the participation rates in most other countries.
Chinese rookie Yang Hansen, a 7-foot-1 draft pick for the Portland Trail Blazers, is another major storyline this season. Yang is thrilled about the NBA’s return to his homeland, saying through an interpreter, "I want to say firstly, playing for the Blazers is a wonderful thing for me, and I wish that I can take all the players and management and coaches to China for sure in the future. For sure, I wish [for] more games in China. … That works for me perfectly. I just wish that in the future, we can have it—I can also play in front of all my homies, which is also the proudest thing for me." His presence is already boosting the Blazers’ profile in China, with team president Dewayne Hankins noting, "One thing that I noticed this summer, and I’ve been with the team almost 13 years, we were No. 1 in the league in social media rankings in July during Summer League, which I’ve never seen before. And a lot of that was due to the incredible audience that Yang Hansen brings to us."
Star power isn’t in short supply either. NBA icons like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Victor Wembanyama have all toured China recently, drawing massive crowds and demonstrating the league’s enduring appeal. LeBron, on his 15th trip to China with Nike, marveled, "There’s an unbelievable love and appreciation for basketball in Asia that’s always incredible to experience." Curry echoed the sentiment: "The skill level and the excitement around the game is really special and I was happy to kind of experience that in Chongqing this year and have something that I’ve done here in the states for a very long time with the Curry Camp and bring it over there. Basketball is at an all-time high, not only from an awareness and fandom perspective."
Yet, the NBA’s return is not without its challenges. Experts caution that the league must tread carefully to avoid reigniting political tensions. Paul Argenti, a professor at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, told CNN, "It’s a thaw, but it’s also a test of how far the NBA and Chinese authorities are willing to rebuild ties." The risks are real—a single offhand remark, as seen in 2019, could spark another backlash. Still, the opportunities are too significant to ignore. As Argenti put it, "China is the NBA’s most important market outside of the United States, with hundreds of millions of fans, huge media rights sponsorship potential. Walking away is never going to be a long-term option."
As tipoff approaches in Macao, the NBA’s return to China is shaping up to be a defining moment for the league and its global ambitions. The games may be preseason, but their impact could be felt for years to come, both on and off the court. For now, Chinese fans are savoring every second—and the NBA is back in the spotlight, right where it wants to be.
