NBA returning to China more than five years after Daryl Morey Hong Kong tweet

The National Basketball Association (NBA) will return to China for two preseason games in 2025, more than five years after former Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey spurred a break in the relationship with an image supporting Hong Kong protesters.

The Brooklyn Nets, owned by Taiwanese-born billionaire and Alibaba Chair Joe Tsai, and the Phoenix Suns will play in Macao on Oct. 10 and Oct. 12, with two more games planned in 2026, the NBA announced Friday.

“Bringing preseason games to Macao will showcase the excitement of the NBA to fans in one of the world’s emerging hubs for sports,” NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum said in the announcement.

“The Nets and the Suns feature an exciting mix of established and rising stars, and we look forward to engaging fans, aspiring players and the local community in Macao through these games and a variety of interactive events, youth development programs and social impact initiatives.” 

China suspended ties with the league after Morey, who is now the president of basketball operations with the Philadelphia 76ers, tweeted, “Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong,” in October 2019.  

The message stirred fury from China, and a mix of responses within the NBA, with both the league and its star players seeking to maintain a loyal following in the growing Chinese market.

League Commissioner Adam Silver stood by Morey’s right to freedom of expression, while Lakers superstar LeBron James said Morey “wasn’t educated on the situation at hand.”

The Nets and Suns will mark the league’s return at Macao’s Venetian Arena, which is owned by Dallas Mavericks’ owner Patrick Dumont’s company, Las Vegas Sands Corp.  

A celebrity game featuring basketball Hall of Famers, including Ray Allen and Tony Parker, is set to take place before the preseason game.