The NBA is making a comeback in China after more than five years following a deal to play preseason games in Macao next season. The Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns will face off on October 10, 2025, at the Venetian Arena owned by the Las Vegas Sands Corp. The league sees this as a significant step in promoting basketball’s global growth. The return comes after a rift was caused in 2019 when then-Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey tweeted support for Hong Kong protesters, leading to the league being effectively banned in China.
To mark its return, the NBA will host a celebrity game in Macao featuring basketball stars like Tony Parker and Ray Allen. The move towards reconciliation started with NBA legend Yao Ming attending a memorial service in the U.S. in January 2020. The rift cost the league up to $400 million in lost revenue, but steps were taken, such as sending medical supplies to China during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NBA has previously played in Macao, with LeBron James praising the fans’ respect for the game. Macao is the only place in China where casino gambling is legal, and Beijing is encouraging the city to diversify its economy. The NBA’s return to China is seen as a positive step in rebuilding relations and promoting the global appeal of basketball.
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