The NBA has returned to China for the first time since 2019, with the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns set to play two sold-out pre-season games in Macau this weekend.
The two teams will headline the NBA Macao Games 2025 event, with two pre-season matchups set for October 10th and 12th at the Venetian Arena, with both teams having already arrived in the SAR.
Analysts say staging games in Macau offers a “soft landing” in a sensitive political climate, as US-China relations remain complicated.
The Venetian Arena games sold out in hours, underlining China’s status as a crucial market.
Alongside the games, the NBA China Games 2025 presented by Taobao 88VIP will feature a week of fan events and community programs in partnership with Sands China.
Ten NBA legends — including Yao Ming, Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Garnett, Vince Carter, Jeremy Lin and Stephon Marbury — will take part in youth clinics, school visits and interactive fan experiences.
WNBA champion Myisha Hines-Allen (Dallas Wings) will also lead a Her Time To Play clinic for teenage girls.
Highlights include school basketball clinics, team practice sessions open to students, charity initiatives for elderly and disabled residents, and the launch of the first-ever NBA House in Macau, an immersive fan experience combining basketball, music, fashion and technology.
The games are part of a five-year partnership with gaming operators Sands China, ensuring Macau remains a hub for the league’s Asian expansion.
NBA officials said before the event reflects the league’s strategy to grow its global fan base while deepening ties with the Chinese market, where basketball remains one of the most popular sports.
A special highlight for Chinese fans will be the appearance of Yongxi Cui, a 21-year-old guard from China signed by the Brooklyn Nets. At 6’5”, Cui is seen as one of the most promising young Chinese players in the NBA, and his participation is expected to draw significant local support.
‘The NBA Macao Games 2026 will not only deliver top-level competition but also highlight the league’s strong connection with Chinese fans,’ the league said in a statement, calling Cui’s presence ‘a source of pride for the local basketball community.’
The Nets will feature a roster led by Cameron Johnson, Cam Thomas and Nic Claxton, with veterans Bojan Bogdanovic and Shake Milton providing depth. The Suns, meanwhile, arrive with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, alongside center Jusuf Nurkic and key role players such as Grayson Allen and Josh Okogie.
Macau has hosted NBA action before, most notably the 2007 preseason clash between Orlando and Cleveland featuring LeBron James, and a 2014 matchup between the Nets and the Kings.
The NBA’s return also comes amongst the upcoming legalization of basketball betting in Hong Kong, seen as a significant boost to the city’s sports betting offerings.
