Around 14,000 people filled Macau’s Venetian Arena last Friday. They were there for a landmark event: the first NBA game in China in six years. This return happened despite ongoing tensions between Washington and Beijing.
Hours before the Brooklyn Nets tipped off against the Phoenix Suns, hundreds of eager fans lined up outside. The Venetian Arena will host NBA preseason games for the next five years, making this a significant long-term commitment. Basketball is hugely popular in China, but many early arrivals came for more than just the game. Musical groups from mainland China and nearby Hong Kong performed before the opening whistle, adding to the festive mood.
Neither the Nets nor the Suns are expected to be NBA champions this season, unlike the Oklahoma City Thunder in the past. Still, the completely packed arena leaned heavily towards Nets fans. This was likely due to Zeng Fanbo being on their roster. The 22-year-old Zeng left the Beijing Ducks, a team from China’s capital, last August. He signed with the Nets, a team owned by Joe Tsai Chung-Hsin, president of Chinese tech giant Alibaba. Zeng was a popular figure. He spoke to fans before the game began. He earned a huge cheer when he entered the game for the first time, with three minutes left in the first half.
On the court, the Nets took control, leading 71-59 at halftime. The game had a somewhat slow pace, even with fans roaring for every dunk and three-pointer. Organizers pulled out all the stops to keep the energy high. They even dropped souvenirs from the arena ceiling using mini-parachutes. Major celebrities also lent a hand. Former English football star David Beckham sat courtside, alongside Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan, Joe Tsai, and Alibaba founder Jack Ma.
During timeouts, the floor became a stage for Chinese celebrities. Members of Hong Kong’s popular band, Mirror, appeared. NBA legends also graced the event, including old rivals Shaquille O’Neal and China’s own Yao Ming. Fang, a 33-year-old fan, shared her excitement with Lusa news agency. “I remember watching Yao Ming play for the Houston Rockets when I was small,” she said. “But this was my first time seeing the NBA live. It was crazy!” Fang, a devoted Suns supporter, flew 2,000 kilometers from Beijing for the game. She was still hoarse after watching her team rally in the second half. The Suns won 132-127 in overtime, after more than three hours of play. The Nets will get a chance for revenge on Sunday. Both teams are set to meet again in the same arena.
More than the final score, the true highlight was the NBA’s return. The league hadn’t held games in China since 2019. This pause began after Daryl Morey, then general manager of the Houston Rockets, expressed support for Hong Kong anti-government protests on social media. The NBA chose not to punish Daryl Morey for his comments. In response, China’s state television, CCTV, stopped broadcasting NBA games. This break cost the league an estimated $400 million (346 million euros) in lost revenue.
Nets coach Jordi Fernández, from Spain, spoke after the game. He noted that many fans “unfortunately did not have the opportunity to see [NBA] games.” He added, “we gave them a show here and we felt supported.” Suns star Devin Booker confirmed the enduring enthusiasm. “I haven’t felt this level of passion in a long time,” he stated. “It was important for the NBA to come back here.”