After a five-year absence, the NBA is heading back to China for preseason games. ESPN recently announced that the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns will play two exhibition matches in China, marking the league's first return since 2019.
The NBA's relationship with China became strained in 2019 following a tweet by then-Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey expressing support for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. This led to Chinese broadcasters pulling NBA games off the air and a significant financial hit to the league, as acknowledged by Commissioner Adam Silver. Despite the fallout, individual NBA players have continued to make appearances in China over the years.
While Commissioner Silver previously expressed optimism about a potential return to China, the NBA's business dealings with the country remain a subject of scrutiny. The league has faced criticism for past associations with training camps in Xinjiang, a region where the Chinese government has been accused of human rights abuses against the Uyghur population. Although the NBA has disavowed any current involvement with these camps, the issue continues to draw attention. Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban recently addressed the controversy, stating his opposition to human rights violations while defending the NBA's pursuit of business opportunities in China.
Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom has been a vocal critic of the league's relationship with China, testifying before Congress about the potential impact of speaking out against human rights abuses on players' careers. He has even gone so far as to suggest the NBA is influenced by the Chinese government.
