
The NBA is set to make its grand return to China with a series of preseason games. This is a pivotal move signaling a thawing of once frosty relations.
After a hiatus of over five years, the league is once again seeking to engage with the world’s most populous market.
It has been announced that the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns will play two games in Macao, China, in October of 2025. This is more than just sports news; it’s a statement of reconciliation between the league and a nation that is adversarial to the United States.
The relationship between the two entities has thawed out in recent years.
NBA Heading Back To China
The friction between China and the NBA began in 2019. It came after former Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted support for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests. Indeed, this lead to a swift and severe backlash from China.
This later resulted in a suspension of broadcasts and cancellation of games. It also was a significant blow to the NBA’s revenue from the Chinese market, which was once a lucrative source of income.
Oddly, it also coincides with two different administrations and how they approach China. The move is almost exclusively about the league making money.
Economically, this return is an important move for the NBA. China represents more than just a vast fan base. It’s also a fertile ground for merchandising, broadcasting rights, and other commercial ventures.
The NBA has always been at the forefront of globalizing basketball. China, with its burgeoning middle class and sports culture, is prime territory. The league’s engagement with China has historically been lucrative, with billions of dollars in revenue at stake.
The Problem With China
Meanwhile, the Chinese government has been accused of genocide against Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic and religious minorities. It’s claimed that they placed these minorities in state-sponsored internment camps.
The NBA backed some of these camps in Xinjiang.
Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom claims he lost approximately $50 million in potential salary and endorsements since his very public condemnation of China.
The NBA, by returning to China, is playing a delicate game of sports diplomacy. This move might be interpreted as the league’s willingness to navigate or perhaps even capitulate to certain political sensitivities to maintain or rebuild its market presence in China.
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