NBA games back in China for first time since Hong Kong row

The NBA has announced the return of its games to China, marking the first time since 2019 when the league faced a rift with the country over a tweet related to the Hong Kong protests. This weekend, two games will be played in Macau, signaling the normalization of the NBA's relationship with China, a crucial market for the league. The NBA's presence in China had been effectively frozen out since the 2019 incident, which led to the cancellation of several preseason games and the suspension of the league's media rights deal in the country. The upcoming games in Macau are seen as a step towards restoring the NBA's foothold in the Chinese market, which is estimated to account for a significant portion of the league's global fanbase and revenue. The return of NBA games to China is a significant development, reflecting the league's efforts to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape and maintain its presence in one of its most important international markets.