The NBA is making its return to China after a nearly five-year hiatus, following a firestorm triggered by a single tweet. The Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns will play two preseason games in Macao next October, marking the league’s long-awaited return to one of its most lucrative international markets, according to ESPN.
The Nets, owned by Chinese billionaire Joe Tsai, will play at the Venetian Arena, a venue operated by the Adelson family, who also own a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks. The Adelson family’s company is also expected to collaborate with the NBA on youth development programs and social impact initiatives in Macao.
The games are seen as a culmination of years of diplomatic efforts to mend the NBA’s relationship with China. NBA China CEO Michael Ma, hired in 2020, has reportedly played a significant role in these efforts, helping to rebuild trust between the league and its Chinese partners.
The NBA’s relationship with China soured dramatically on October 4, 2019, when Daryl Morey, then the general manager of the Houston Rockets, posted an image on Twitter that read, “Fight For Freedom. Stand With Hong Kong.” The post came during a time of widespread protests in Hong Kong against the Chinese government. The NBA quickly distanced itself from Morey’s tweet, as did Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta. Morey later deleted the tweet, clarifying that the message reflected only his personal views. However, the tweet’s fallout led to a severe backlash from the Chinese government.
In retaliation, NBA games were removed from Chinese television broadcasts, and the Rockets—once beloved in China due to their association with national hero Yao Ming—became a pariah. This incident marked the end of a 28-game streak of preseason NBA games held in China between 2004 and 2019, with no games played in the country since.
The NBA’s response to the situation also became a politically charged issue back in the United States, with lawmakers across both political parties criticizing the league for allegedly allowing China to suppress the free speech of an American citizen. In the weeks following the incident, protests against the NBA’s handling of the situation were seen at games across the country.
Now, as the league returns to China, it appears that the NBA has worked hard to repair its fractured relationship with the country, laying the groundwork for a new era of cooperation in Macao.