The NBA is set to make a comeback in China with a planned agreement to host preseason games, marking a significant return after more than five years since the league faced a de facto ban. This occurred following NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s decision not to discipline Daryl Morey for his tweet supporting anti-government protests in Hong Kong. An announcement regarding this deal is expected soon, as confirmed by a source who preferred to remain anonymous since neither the NBA nor Chinese officials have officially commented yet.
The Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns are scheduled to play two games in Macao, a gambling center in China, on October 10 and October 12, 2025. Additionally, there are plans for two more preseason games to be held in China in 2026. The games will take place at the Venetian Arena in Macao, which is owned by Las Vegas Sands Corp., a prominent casino operator in the region. Notably, Sands’ president, Patrick Dumont, recently became the governor of the Dallas Mavericks after his family purchased the team.
Joe Tsai, who is the chairman of Alibaba, owns the Nets. This weekend, the arena will also feature an NBA presence with a celebrity game showcasing Basketball Hall of Famers such as Tony Parker, Ray Allen, and Tracy McGrady, alongside former NBA players like Stephon Marbury and DeMarcus Cousins.
This development is part of a broader effort to restore normal relations between the NBA and China. The league has gradually been welcomed back, as evidenced by Miami’s Jimmy Butler engaging in promotional tours with Li-Ning, a Chinese apparel brand, over the past two offseasons and significant crowds drawn by Golden State’s Stephen Curry and Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox during their September visits.
In October, Silver expressed optimism about reintroducing games to China, suggesting a potential thaw in relations. The tensions started in October 2019 when Morey tweeted in support of Hong Kong’s protesters, leading to a fallout that upset Beijing, particularly after Silver backed Morey’s right to express his views. During that controversial period, the NBA played games in China with many fans attending in silence and covering NBA logos on their jerseys, which underscored the delicate situation. The league faced criticisms from both sides of the U.S. political spectrum for not addressing China’s human rights issues more robustly.
The absence of NBA broadcasts on China’s state television, CCTV, lasted for a year due to Silver’s refusal to align with the Chinese government’s expectations regarding Morey. Nonetheless, the network eventually resumed airing NBA games in 2022, following a brief display of NBA Finals content in 2020. The revenue losses from this rift were estimated to be around $400 million, which likely continued to accumulate over time.
Despite these challenges, there have been signs of reconciliation. Notably, Yao Ming’s attendance at a memorial service for the late NBA Commissioner David Stern in January 2020 was considered a positive step toward mending ties. Furthermore, the NBA received public acknowledgment from China in February 2020 for sending medical supplies amid the early COVID-19 pandemic.
The NBA has previously hosted a preseason game in Macao back in 2007, featuring a match where Orlando defeated Cleveland. They also played against a local all-star team during that visit. In 2008, USA Basketball held exhibition games in Macao before heading to the Beijing Olympics. Reflecting on the significance of the game, LeBron James praised the respect and enthusiasm that local fans have for basketball during his 2007 visit.
Macao, which was returned to Chinese governance in 1999 after being a Portuguese colony, remains the sole area in China where casino gambling is permitted. Beijing has expressed a desire for the city to diversify its economy, aiming to boost tourism and facilitate trade with Portuguese-speaking countries.
