NBA to return to China for first time since 2019

The NBA will stage two pre-season games in Macau next October, marking its return to China after being frozen out for more than five years.

The NBA and its new partner Sands China Ltd announced that the Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns will play two preseason games on 10th and 12th October next year at the Venetian Arena as part of a muti-year collaboration between the world's top basketball league and a major operator of integrated resorts in the city.

No NBA games have been held in China since two pre-season contests in 2019 after a tweet from then-Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey supporting pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

Morey posted an image bearing a slogan used by demonstrators urging the world to “Stand with Hong Kong”.

He later deleted the tweet and apologised, but authorities in the world’s largest basketball market effectively cut ties with the league and ended broadcasts after NBA executives defended Morey’s right to freedom of expression.

The resulting fallout saw the NBA lose hundreds of millions of dollars.

Announcing the sport’s return, NBA Deputy Commissioner, Mark Tatum advised “it’s my pleasure to announce that the Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns will play two pre-season games at Sands’ Venetian Arena (in) October (next year)”, adding that “this region is home to some of the most passionate NBA fans” in the world.

The Venetian Arena is part of the Las Vegas Sands conglomerate controlled by the Adelson family, who are the majority ownership group in the Dallas Mavericks.

In addition to the Games, the NBA and Sands will also conduct interactive fan activities, NBA Cares community outreach initiatives and lifestyle events, including an NBA Fan Day during the week of the games that will feature celebrity performances and the opportunity to watch the teams and celebrities participate in on-court activities and skills competitions.

Ahead of the games, an NBA Flagship Store will open at The Londoner Macau and will provide fans in Macao and visitors from around the world with a wide range of authentic and customised NBA merchandise from major brands.

Tatum added “bringing preseason games to Macao will showcase the excitement of the NBA to fans in one of the world's emerging hubs for sports.

"We have a long history of being here in China … and our approach has always been consistent. It's always the mission of the NBA to inspire and connect people everywhere through the game of basketball.

"So the return now through a partnership with Sands China, I think, is fantastic for the fans. And it'll give an opportunity for fans to experience live NBA basketball in their market once again."

Las Vegas Sands President and Chief Operating Officer, Patrick Dumont hailed the NBA's stay in Macau as a multi-beneficiary collaboration that will push the city's evolution into an international tourism hub, noting "I think the great thing is that Macao is a wonderful tourism city. So to bring world-class sports here in partnership with the NBA creates a great situation as a win-win-win, where the NBA wins, the city of Macao wins and China wins.

"We will have great tourism driven by unbelievable sporting events that will help cement Macao as not only a great tourism city for both business and leisure tourism, but also as a sporting city."

Lower image: The Cotai Arena at the Sands Venetian Macau.