NBA re-calls Hong Kong to play since 2019. Image credit: Getty Images
(The Post News) – This week marks the NBA’s eagerly anticipated return to China, where it will play its first games since 2019. Two preseason games between the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns are scheduled for Friday and Sunday at an arena located inside the Venetian hotel and casino in Macau.
After the previous Houston Rockets manager Daryl Morey tweeted in support of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy demonstrations, the NBA and China froze for six years until this return. Chinese officials and fans reacted negatively to the message, which resulted in disagreements and the cancellation of NBA coverage.
With the announcement of a multi-year collaboration with digital giant Alibaba late last year, the NBA is once again entering the Chinese market. Interestingly, Alibaba’s chair is Brooklyn Nets owner Joseph Tsai.Interestingly, Alibaba’s chair is Brooklyn Nets owner Joseph Tsai. The NBA will also play its first games in Macau since 2007.
According to Commissioner Adam Silver, the NBA is seeing “an enormous interest regarding the NBA across China” and sees its comeback as a crucial opportunity for rebuilding a connection with a sizable and ardent fan base.
In China, basketball is extremely popular. This trend peaked in 2002 when Yao Ming, a Chinese star, was selected by the Houston Rockets. According to NBA estimates, more than 300 million Chinese individuals participated in the sport in 2019. Later, ESPN calculated that NBA China was worth about $5 billion.
The forthcoming games represent more than simply basketball; they also represent a gradual but steady rapprochement between the NBA and China.
The news has been enthusiastically received by fans. “We started preparing for this nearly two months ago,” Lyu Yizhe, who flew to Macau from Xiamen, told Reuters. Since 1998, during the Jordan and Bulls era, we have been NBA fanatics. This feels really unique.
Mole Zeng, a Hangzhou-based fan, added, “I think that more superstars are going to appear here and engage with the fans face-to-face as the NBA proceeds to grow in China.”
The NBA’s comeback marks a new chapter in its history in China, one that combines commerce, sport, and a mutual love of basketball after years of tense ties.
About the Author
