NBA returns to China after conflict between leagues, countries: report

Relations between the NBA and China appear to be improving.

ESPN reported on Thursday that the association will play pre-season games in China. This marks the NBA’s first trip there since 2019.

The Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns are said to play two preseason games there.

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General view of the Houston Rockets vs. New Orleans Pelicans as part of the 2016 World Sports Championship – China at LeSports Center on 1 October 12 Oct. 2016 in Beijing (Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

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It has been five years since the conflict began. Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey leads Chinese broadcasters not broadcasting games in the country Morey posted on social media that he supported anti-government protests in Hong Kong.

Chinese officials wanted Morey fired in 2019 after he expressed support for anti-government protests. This has led to disagreements with China on this issue.

Chinese broadcasters, in turn, responded by not broadcasting two warm-up games played in the country afterward. Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn team The Nets also travel to play there.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the league suffered “significant” financial losses following the China collapse. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver revealed that the league has suffered “significant” financial losses due to the defection of corporate sponsors and other factors.

However, back in October, Silver said he felt a return was possible. NBA players have made multiple appearances in China over the years. Even though the relationship between the league and the country is frayed.

The league has been the target of business cooperation with China for years. This is partly because of league-sponsored training camps in Xinjiang. The government cracks down on the Uighur population. The US government considers it a genocide by China.

Recently, Mark Cuban, the minority owner of the Dallas Mavericks, posted on X that he was against it. However, he agreed with the NBA exporting content to China. Because the league receives “compensation”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks to the media during a press conference at the United Center on February 2, September 15, 2020 in Chicago. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

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Former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom testified before Congress in 2023, refuting his criticisms of China’s treatment of the Uyghurs. This affected his NBA career. Kanter Freedom also suggested that the NBA is run by a “Chinese dictator.”

Fox News’ Scott Thompson and Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.