Mavericks’ New Ownership Helps NBA Rebuild Relationship with China
The NBA revealed it will return to China for preseason games next year for the first time since 2019, with the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns set to play two games in Macao next October. This move marks a significant step in mending the strained relationship between the NBA and China, which had been deteriorating since Daryl Morey’s 2019 tweet supporting Hong Kong protests. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver supported Morey’s stance, reinforcing the league’s commitment to freedom of expression.
As reported by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Shams Charania, new Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont played a key role in making this deal possible. The games will be hosted at Macao’s Venetian Arena, which is owned by the Adelson family, the new majority owners of the Mavericks. ESPN also noted that the NBA’s partnership with the Las Vegas Sands, which owns the arena, will involve new youth development programs and social impact initiatives aimed at teaching basketball and its values to children in Macao.
The NBA and China enjoyed a strong relationship in the past, particularly during Yao Ming’s time with the Houston Rockets. Between 2004 and 2019, the NBA hosted 28 preseason games in China featuring 17 different teams.
In 2018, the Dallas Mavericks played two preseason games against the Philadelphia 76ers in China, one in Shanghai and the other in Shenzhen.
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