<p>The NBA makes its long-awaited return to China with <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/basketball-us/nba-preseason-matches">two NBA preseason games</a> between the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns at The Venetian Arena in Macao, taking place on Friday, October 10, and Sunday, October 12, at 20:00 local time.</p> <p>This marks the first time NBA games have been played in China since 2019, ending a six-year absence that followed a geopolitical rift sparked by then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey's tweet supporting Hong Kong protests.&nbsp;</p> <p>The return represents a significant milestone for the league's most important international market, where an estimated 300 million people play basketball.</p> <p>Between 2004 and 2019, the NBA played 28 games in China before the relationship deteriorated. The last games in 2019 were described as awkward affairs, with muted fan reactions and no press conferences held.</p> <p>This time, the atmosphere is expected to be vastly different, with Chinese fans eagerly anticipating the return of live NBA action.</p> <h2>The Context Behind the Return</h2> <p>The relationship between the NBA and China fractured dramatically in October 2019 when Morey posted an image on social media supporting pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.</p> <p>NBA Commissioner <strong>Adam Silver</strong> supported Morey's freedom of expression, which triggered Chinese state broadcaster CCTV to pull NBA games from its airwaves and numerous sponsorships to disappear virtually overnight.</p> <p>The impact was substantial. Prior to the fallout, nearly 500 million people in China were consuming NBA content, according to estimates from Tencent, which holds the league's digital broadcasting rights.</p> <p>NBA China, the arm of the league managing all operations in the Greater China region, was valued at approximately $5 billion in a 2022 analysis commissioned by ESPN.</p> <p>Silver worked diligently over the past six years to repair the relationship, emphasizing the unifying power of sports during times of division.</p> <p>The NBA's popularity in China exploded after <strong>Yao Ming</strong> was drafted by the Houston Rockets as the number one pick in 2002, cementing basketball's place in Chinese sporting culture.</p> <p>Notable NBA stars maintained their connection with Chinese fans throughout the hiatus. <strong>LeBron James</strong> toured China for the 15th time in summer 2025 with Nike, while <strong>Victor Wembanyama</strong> of the San Antonio Spurs drew such large crowds during his summer visit that fans would sprint toward him if he was spotted on a morning jog.</p> <p><strong>Stephen Curry </strong>and <strong>Jimmy Butler</strong> also recently toured China, demonstrating the sport's enduring appeal.</p> <p>Even now, the games came at a turbulent time. There is trade friction between the United States and China, with both sides threatening high tariffs on exports.</p> <p>The NBA has long heard criticisms from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle about not taking a stronger public stance about China's human rights record.</p> <p>"Much of the sports industry is based on relationships and we think sports plays a unique role in building community - not just in the United States but around the world and particularly at times of heightened division," Commissioner Silver said.</p> <p>"Whether that division is domestically or globally there's almost nothing else I can think of that brings together communities like sports does, and particularly a sport like basketball that is globally played, globally understood."</p> <h2>China's Basketball Market Potential</h2> <p>The significance of these games extended far beyond the court because (if the NBA's numbers are correct) there are 300 million fans and 300 million people playing basketball in China, which means there are 300 million potential consumers in a basketball-crazed part of the world.</p> <p>NBA Deputy Commissioner <strong>Mark Tatum</strong> emphasized the importance of bringing live games to international markets.</p> <p>"I think it's very important for us to be able to bring the live game experience, including live games, to as many fans of the NBA around the world," Tatum said. "And there's no doubt that China has one of the largest fanbases in the world. [There are]&nbsp; hundreds of millions of fans in China, 300 million people play the game of basketball in China, and our mission is to inspire and connect people everywhere through the game of basketball."</p> <p>The historic nature of these games, combined with the passion of Chinese basketball fans, is sure to create an electric atmosphere for both teams. Two more games are already planned for China in 2026, indicating the NBA's long-term commitment to rebuilding and strengthening its presence in the region.</p>