The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced two preseason games between the Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns in Macau, marking the league debut in the world’s largest gaming hub and its return to China, Reuters reported.
The matches are scheduled for Oct. 10 and Oct. 12 at the Venetian Arena under a five-year contract with Sands China, the Macau subsidiary of Las Vegas Sands, following the NBA’s absence since 2019 due to controversy over the Hong Kong protests, when then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey supported pro-democracy demonstrations on social media.
The NBA also announced a five-day, free-to-enter event including music, fashion, and technology exhibitions showcasing the NBA brand, with NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal attending the fair.
Alibaba Group announced that its cloud division will become the official cloud computing and AI partner of NBA China, providing artificial intelligence and cloud services to enhance fan experiences on the NBA app.
The event also reflects Macau’s efforts to diversify its economy beyond gaming. Notably, a hospital inside the Studio City resort, aimed at developing the city as a healthcare tourism destination, was opened on Oct. 6.
