The NBA has announced its return to Chinese territory with two pre-season games scheduled for October 2025 in Macau. This landmark decision, revealed by NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum on Friday, represents the league’s first games in China since a politically charged incident in 2019 led to a severe deterioration in relations.
The Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns will face off at the Venetian Arena on October 10 and 12, 2025, inaugurating what appears to be an ambitious five-year partnership. The games are part of a multimillion-dollar agreement that envisions annual pre-season matchups in Macau, the only Chinese territory where gambling is legal and often referred to as the country’s Las Vegas.
The announcement marks a dramatic turnaround from the October 2019 crisis, which erupted when then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey posted a tweet supporting Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests. Despite Morey’s subsequent deletion of the tweet and apology, the incident triggered a severe backlash from China, resulting in the NBA’s effective exile from one of its most lucrative markets.
The financial impact of this diplomatic freeze was substantial, with the NBA reportedly losing hundreds of millions of dollars after being removed from Chinese television until 2022. This underscored the significant economic stakes involved in maintaining positive relations with China, where basketball enjoys immense popularity and the NBA has cultivated a massive fanbase over decades.
The choice of Macau as the venue for this reconciliation is particularly strategic. Operating under China’s “one country, two systems” framework, Macau provides a unique diplomatic middle ground for this sensitive reunion. The selection of the Venetian Arena, part of the Las Vegas Sands empire now connected to the NBA through the Dallas Mavericks’ ownership, adds another layer of significance to the arrangement.
Patrick Dumont, Las Vegas Sands’ CEO, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, describing it as a collaboration with “one of the most powerful and iconic global sports brands in history.” This alignment of interests between major commercial entities appears to have played a crucial role in facilitating the NBA’s return to Chinese territory.
According to ESPN sources, the improved relationship between the NBA and China has been facilitated in part by NBA China CEO Michael Ma, who assumed his role in 2020. Ma’s appointment and subsequent diplomatic efforts appear to have been instrumental in rebuilding bridges and creating the conditions for this historic return.
The selection of the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns for these inaugural games also appears carefully considered, with both teams representing major markets while avoiding the political sensitivities that might have accompanied certain other franchises. The games will serve not only as sporting events but as a litmus test for the renewed relationship between the NBA and Chinese audiences.
Deputy Commissioner Tatum emphasized the region’s passionate NBA fanbase, acknowledging the deep-rooted popularity of basketball in the area. This recognition of the fan community’s importance suggests the NBA is keen to rebuild its relationship with Chinese audiences while navigating the complex political landscape that led to the original rupture.
The five-year commitment to hosting games in Macau indicates both parties’ confidence in the sustainability of this renewed relationship. It also suggests a carefully structured approach to reengaging with the Chinese market, using Macau’s unique status as a bridge between different political and economic systems.
As the NBA prepares for this historic return, the broader implications for sports diplomacy and international business relations remain significant. The resolution of this five-year impasse demonstrates how sport can serve as a vehicle for diplomatic reconciliation, while also highlighting the delicate balance major sports organizations must maintain between commercial interests, political sensitivities, and their global responsibilities.
