Sold-out games, raucous fan support and a city bustling like never before — the NBA's China return ended in great fanfare in Macao, as the league reiterated its commitment to growing the game on all fronts in its biggest overseas market.
Despite the six-year wait, China's interest in NBA basketball has only grown stronger, as proven by the overwhelming response to the league's first preseason tour to the country since 2019, which featured the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns. This latest two-game edition of the NBA China Games drew huge crowds to Macao, and shone a global spotlight on the tourism and gaming hub bright enough to eclipse all of the other big-ticket concerts and art exhibitions taking place in the city over the weekend.
Tickets were hot commodities, hotels were overbooked and the NBA House, a large free-access hoops festival set in the Venetian Macao, was easily among the most visited attractions in town, where fans enjoyed interactive games, as well as meet-and-greets with NBA legends and celebrities.
It all felt as exciting and familiar as it's ever been with the NBA China Games, which had been held consistently in the country since their 2004 debut until the COVID-19 pandemic intervened.
"The energy was off the charts," the Suns' All-Star guard Devin Booker said of the electrifying atmosphere in the city, after leading Phoenix to a 132-127 victory over Brooklyn in the first game at the packed Venetian Arena on Friday.
"I haven't heard those types of cheers and (felt such) love in a very long time, probably since my college days with Kentucky, so I think it's important for us, and the NBA, to get back over here," said the sharpshooting 28-year-old, who drew swarms of fans everywhere he appeared in Macao.
"You guys do so love the game, and we'd expected that, but it was on a whole other level (to actually come and play here)."
READ MORE: NBA makes comeback in Chinese mainland, staging two games in Macao SAR
Adding to the authentic NBA experience, the appearance of a homegrown player on the preseason trip, with Brooklyn's training camp prospect Zeng Fanbo featuring in both games, has rekindled Chinese fans' pride, enthusiastically rooting for their own in the world's most competitive league, while dishing out an inspiring message to China's next generation of talent.
"Our predecessors have proven it can be achieved, I hope the younger generation will be as motivated as I am to pursue their dreams of making it to the NBA," Zeng said after playing 10 minutes for the Nets off the bench in the first game.
Before Zeng with Brooklyn, only three other Chinese players had suited up at previous editions of the NBA China Games, with Hall of Famer Yao Ming featuring for the Houston Rockets in 2004 and 2010, his former national teammate Liu Wei playing with the Sacramento Kings in 2004 and, in 2018, forward Ding Yanyuhang playing with the Dallas Mavericks.
Currently only one Chinese player, the Portland Trail Blazers' rookie center Yang Hansen, is on a guaranteed contract with an NBA franchise and gearing up for the 2025-26 regular season.
Thanks to a new collaboration signed between the NBA and the Chinese Basketball Association in Macao, more Chinese players are expected to follow suit in plying their trade in the top-tier league in the near future.
Through the extended partnership, inked by CBA president Guo Zhenming and NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Friday, more opportunities for the Chinese men's and women's national teams to train and compete in the United States, either in the NBA Summer League or preseason WNBA games will be facilitated by the NBA.
The league will also offer top Chinese prospects the opportunity to grow their individual game on NBA talent development programs, such as Basketball Without Borders camps, the NBA Academy and tryouts conducted by NBA, WNBA and NBA G-League teams.
The agreement will focus on improvement of Chinese coaches and referees, as well, helping them catch up with the world's best through training programs held in the US, China and online. Since 2009, NBA China and the CBA have collaborated in assisting more than 3,500 coaches, players and referees through a variety of programs and initiatives.
On top of the league's renewal of all business connections with the Chinese market, Silver stressed that elevating the game's profile in China, particularly in terms of talent development, is high on his agenda.
"I think much of the discussions with the CBA and Mr Guo will be based on what it is we need to do to develop top-tier players who can both achieve success for the (Chinese) national teams and potentially play in the NBA or WNBA," Silver told China Daily during an interview in Macao.
"We agreed with the CBA that there is no higher priority than working together to develop these young players. If these players were coming into the NBA, playing (against) top-notch competition, no doubt it will inspire other young players to achieve that as well."
Guo, who took over from Yao last year to become the new CBA chief, said the helping hand from the NBA is always welcome.
"The Chinese Basketball Association remains committed to an open approach and continuously deepening international exchanges," Guo said. "We aim to leverage this collaboration as an opportunity to actively learn from the NBA's proven expertise in talent development and game operations."
As a proof of the extensive exchange between the two leagues, 30 players with NBA experience played in China during the 2024-25 CBA season, while a record 26 current and former WNBA stars played in the 2024-25 WCBA season, including 2024 WNBA Finals MVP Jonquel Jones (New York Liberty).
The Chinese men's national team made its NBA Summer League debut in 2007 to prepare for the Beijing 2008 Olympics, and most recently played in the 2024 California Classic Summer League in Sacramento. The women's squad has also played in six WNBA preseason games as early as in 2019, as part of warm-ups for major international events.
