China set to host first NBA preseason games since 2019
The NBA is set to rekindle its relationship with China, which had cooled since 2019, by hosting two preseason games in Macao this October. Reports on Thursday revealed that the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns will face off on October 10 and 12, 2025, at the Venetian Arena in Macao. These games mark the NBA’s return to the region after a six-year break; the league previously held 28 preseason games in China from 2004 to 2019.
Basketball remains hugely popular in China, making it a significant market for the NBA. However, the relationship soured in 2019 when Daryl Morey, then the Houston Rockets’ general manager, tweeted support for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. The tweet led to sponsorship cancellations and a year-long suspension of NBA broadcasts on China’s state broadcaster, CCTV. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver defended Morey’s right to free expression, though the league faced an estimated $400 million loss in 2021 due to the fallout.
Since 2022, NBA games have gradually returned to Chinese TV and streaming platforms, signaling improving relations. The upcoming games in Macao will further strengthen this reconnection. Macao, known as the only region in China where casino gambling is legal, is home to the Venetian Arena, operated by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. Notably, Dallas Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont is also the president and CEO of Las Vegas Sands.
The Nets, owned by Alibaba co-founder Joe Tsai, and other NBA players, including stars like Stephen Curry, have been part of efforts to maintain basketball’s presence in China. Meanwhile, Macao will host a celebrity basketball game this weekend featuring former NBA players, adding to the growing basketball excitement in the region.