The return of star-studded NBA basketball teams to China, after a six-year absence, thrilled fans and marked the renewal of a relationship which has enormous potential. The Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns tied in the two-game series at The Venetian Arena in Macau. The sell-out events were watched by a combined crowd of more than 22,000. There was plenty of glitz and glamour, with singers, a lion dance, NBA legends and other celebrities. Fans revelled in the pre-season action and were able to see Chinese star Zeng Fanbo make his debut for the Nets.
The matches were the first two to be played in Macau under a five-year deal between the NBA and Sands China. This was a promising start. A Texas derby between the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets is scheduled for 2026.
Basketball is one of China’s most popular sports, with hundreds of millions of followers. Interest in the NBA surged in the 1990s, with free-to-air broadcasts of games, and accelerated with the success of China’s greatest player, Yao Ming.
There were 25 NBA games played in China from 2004 to 2019. But the relationship was fractured when the then-general manager of the Houston Rockets made an ill-conceived tweet in support of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong. The backlash in China saw broadcasts of NBA games halted, sponsors dropping their support and fans outraged. It was going to take time for the relationship to recover. But the NBA continued to engage with China and its patience has paid off. The return of the American teams to the country can greatly benefit both sides.
The matches in casino hub Macau, which wants 60 per cent of its gross domestic product to come from the non-gaming sector by 2028, were accompanied by open training sessions and immersive exhibitions. The Nets held clinics for young players in Macau and Hong Kong, where it is also funding the revitalisation of basketball courts. The development of the game in the community should be encouraged.A new agreement struck between the NBA and the Chinese Basketball Association, meanwhile, could prove transformative in nurturing the country’s talented players and raising standards. The collaboration will allow members of China’s men’s and women’s teams to train and play in the US, giving them much-needed experience. NBA teams may return to mainland China in future. With ties between Washington and Beijing tense and uncertain, the nations’ shared passion for basketball can provide a valuable link. The landmark matches in Macau have restored the relationship and, with hard work, success in the future should be a slam dunk.