The NBA is patching up the relationship with its most important international market. The Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns played an NBA game in China for the first time in six years on Friday.
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Why is the NBA patching up its relationship with China?
Despite a trade dispute and heightened political tensions, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver believes relationships are what sports are about.
“We think sports plays a unique role in building community, not just in the United States but around the world, and particularly at times of heightened division.” Silver said. “Whether that division is domestically or globally, there’s almost nothing else I can think of that brings together communities like sports does, and particularly a sport like basketball that is globally understood.”
The score of Friday’s preseason game in Macau didn’t matter; the Suns won 132-127 in overtime, nor did the fact that it was not played in mainland China. A market featuring an estimated 425 million basketball fans is a virtual gold mine for the NBA and its partners.
Why did things go south in the first place?
The league was frozen out of China after a 2019 war of words and tweets over democratic protests in Hong Kong. The league was largely absent from Chinese airwaves for the next three years, and almost every Chinese sponsor cut ties with the NBA. The fans, however, remained. Suns star Devin Booker, who last visited China six years ago, knows the significance of this weekend’s trip.
“I think basketball without borders is super important,” Booker said. “Being here on their homeland and letting them see us play in person. You know, I think for the youth and the next generation of Chinese players, getting this experience on their land will just open up their inspiration.”
The NBA and the Chinese Basketball Association announced a partnership on Friday, focusing on youth basketball and growth through the development of elite Chinese players, coaches and referees.
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China is the second-largest market in the world for the NBA. Roughly 425 million fans in the country follow NBA league, team and player social media accounts.
Sixteen Chinese players have played in the NBA and WNBA, according to the league. The league believes that having the next Yao Ming play alongside or against Booker, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Cooper Flagg will grow the game exponentially.
“They know they need to generate more high-quality players, both men and women, and it goes to the quality of their youth programs and the quality of their training,” Silver said. “So, we entered into a partnership with them.”
Will the newfound friendship involve the WNBA?
The partnership also includes providing opportunities for Chinese teams to take part in the NBA Summer League and in WNBA preseason games in the United States. Silver said a women’s showcase in China could be next after a collective bargaining agreement with WNBA players is reached.
“There’s so much interest in women’s basketball here,” Silver said. “It didn’t used to be the case in the old days; now everywhere I go, as it just sort of exists in the United States, people want to talk about the WNBA now, and it’s great. People want to talk about women’s basketball here, and we would love to bring a WNBA game to Macau or to mainland China.”
Chinese tech giant Alibaba announced another multi-year deal with the NBA on Friday. They will provide artificial intelligence and cloud services for the league’s operations in China. Alibaba is chaired by Joe Tsai, who also owns the Brooklyn Nets.
The second game between the Nets and Suns will be played on Sunday at the Venetian Arena in Macau. Patrick Dumont, owner of the Dallas Mavericks and president of Las Vegas Sands Resort, is the host of the games and said the showcase will continue next year as well.
