The NBA will hold two pre-season games in Macau next October, marking its return to Greater China after a five-year absence. The announcement was made on Friday by NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum.
The league’s relationship with China soured in 2019 after then-Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey tweeted in support of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Although Morey later deleted the tweet and apologized, Chinese authorities severed ties with the NBA, pulling games off local television. The fallout cost the league hundreds of millions of dollars before broadcasts resumed in 2022.
Tatum revealed that the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns will face off at the Venetian Arena in Macau on October 10 and 12, 2025. Macau, a special administrative region under China’s “one country, two systems” framework, is famous for its gambling industry and is often compared to Las Vegas.
“This region is home to some of the most passionate NBA fans,” Tatum said at the announcement. The games are part of a multimillion-dollar deal to host two annual pre-season matches in Macau over the next five years, according to the South China Morning Post.
The Venetian Arena is owned by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, whose CEO, Patrick Dumont, described the partnership as a collaboration with “one of the most powerful and iconic global sports brands in history.”
Basketball fans in Beijing expressed excitement about the games. “Their return is great for amateur basketball fans to experience the highest level of competition,” said Zhou Dacheng, a fan from Beijing. However, some social media users remain skeptical about the NBA’s full return to mainland China, citing strained relations.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver noted in October that the league remains committed to its values while seeking to rebuild its presence in China. “We stood by our values, and we expect to return at some point,” he said.
The league’s global expansion has included games in Abu Dhabi and partnerships like the Emirates Airlines sponsorship of the NBA Cup. From 2004 to 2019, 28 NBA pre-season games were played across China.
Meanwhile, Macau continues to rely on its multibillion-dollar gambling industry to attract visitors, though Chinese President Xi Jinping has encouraged economic diversification in the region.
