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10h ago

NBA Returns to China With Sold-Out Nets–Suns Preseason in Macao

A multiyear Alibaba Cloud partnership signals a cautious reboot in the league’s biggest overseas market.

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A Hong Kong protester in an LA Lakers jersey holding a LeBron James picture during a pro-democracy demonstration in October, 2019.
LeBron James plays with a basketball during a promotional event at a store in Guangzhou, China in July, 2014.
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Overview

  • Two exhibitions on Oct. 10 and 12 at The Venetian Arena mark the NBA’s first games in China since 2019, following the fallout from Daryl Morey’s Hong Kong post.
  • Commissioner Adam Silver said there is “tremendous interest” in the return and suggested the sell-outs could open the door to additional events across China.
  • Alibaba Cloud announced a multiyear role as NBA China’s official cloud computing and AI partner, a tie that also connects to Nets owner and Alibaba chairman Joe Tsai.
  • The Macao games are linked to Sands China’s venue at The Venetian Arena, with reporting pointing to a multi-year arrangement to host preseason matchups.
  • Fan demand is intense with premium resale prices, and the visit includes an NBA House fan experience plus Nets-led youth clinics and a planned basketball court project in Hong Kong.