The NBA will return to China next October, marking the league’s first trip to the country in five years since former Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey sparked controversy with a tweet.
The Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns will play two preseason games in Macao, according to ESPN. The Adelson family, owners of the Dallas Mavericks, control the Venetian Arena, where the matches will take place. Taiwanese-born billionaire Joe Tsai, owner of the Brooklyn Nets, is also participating in the event. The Adelson family’s company is reportedly collaborating with the NBA to launch new youth development programs and social impact initiatives in Macao.
The games are seen as the culmination of a years-long effort to repair the NBA’s relationship with China, which began to deteriorate following a tweet posted by Morey in October 2019. At the time, Morey shared an image with the message “Fight For Freedom. Stand With Hong Kong,” amidst a wave of protests in Hong Kong against the Chinese government. The NBA quickly distanced itself from Morey’s statement, with then-Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta also disavowing the post. Morey later clarified that the tweet reflected his personal views and not those of the Rockets or the NBA, but he had done the damage.
The Chinese government responded by halting NBA broadcasts in the country and cutting ties with the Rockets, a team closely associated with Chinese basketball legend Yao Ming. This marked a severe break in the NBA’s relationship with China, which had previously hosted 28 preseason games there from 2004 to 2019.
The fallout also became a political issue in the United States, with lawmakers from both parties criticizing the NBA for allegedly allowing the Chinese government to suppress free speech. Protests erupted at NBA games in the weeks following the incident.
Since then, NBA China CEO Michael Ma, who took on the role in 2020, has played a key part in mending the league’s ties with the country. The return to China with the 2024 preseason games represents a significant step in rebuilding this relationship after a turbulent period.
