NBA to return to China after yearslong rift

THE NBA IS READY TO RETURN TO CHINA FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN FIVE YEARS – MARKING A BIG TURNAROUND AFTER THE LEAGUE AND BEIJING HAD A FALLING OUT OVER AN EXECUTIVE’S TWEET.

THE LEAGUE ANNOUNCING FRIDAY TWO PRESASON GAMES BETWEEN THE BROOKLYN NETS AND THE PHOENIX SUNS WILL TAKE PLACE IN MACAO NEXT OCTOBER AT THE VENETIAN ARENA – OWNED BY THE LAS VEGAS SANDS CORPORATION.

MACAO IS THE ONLY REGION IN CHINA WHERE CASINO GAMBLING IS LEGAL.

SANDS PRESIDENT PATRICK DUMONT — WHO IS ALSO THE GOVERNOR OF THE DALLAS MAVERICKS AFTER HIS FAMILY ACQUIRED THE TEAM LAST YEAR —  SAID IN A STATEMENT:

“NBA basketball is a global sport that attracts people of different ages, backgrounds and cultures.  It creates exciting experiences that connect people while playing a positive role in communities.  Sands is honored to bring The NBA China Games to Macao so that the most elite level of basketball can be experienced directly by the fans who are so passionate about it.”

THESE WILL BE THE FIRST NBA GAMES PLAYED IN THE COUNTRY SINCE A TWEET BY THEN-GENERAL MANAGER OF THE HOUSTON ROCKETS DARYL MOREY ON OCTOBER 4TH 2019 SET OFF A RIFT BETWEEN THE LEAGUE AND CHINA.

MOREY, WHO IS NOW GENERAL MANAGER OF THE PHILADELPHIA 76ERS, POSTED AN IMAGE IN SUPPORT OF ONGOING PROTESTS IN HONG KONG.

AT THE TIME — THE BROOKLYN NETS AND THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS WERE IN CHINA. CHINESE OFFICIALS RESPONDED TO MOREY’S COMMENTS BY STOPPING THE TEAMS FROM HOLDING PRE-GAME AND POST-GAME PRESS CONFERENCES.

ROCKETS OWNER TILMAN FERTITTA WAS QUICK TO REACT AT THE TIME – SAYING MOREY DID NOT SPEAK FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND THE TEAMS WERE IN CHINA TO PROMOTE THE LEAGUE INTERNATIONALLY – SAYING THE NBA IS NOT A POLITICAL ORGANIZATION.

NETS CHAIRMAN – JOE TSAI – WHO IS ALSO THE CO-FOUNDER OF CHINESE E-COMMERCE GIANT ALIBABA – ALSO CRITICIZED THE TWEET IN AN OPEN LETTER TO NBA FANS CALLING THE SITUATION IN HONG KONG A “THIRD-RAIL ISSUE.”

NBA COMMISSIONER ADAM SILVER SAID MOREY HAD THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS HIMSELF – WHILE THE NBA IN ITS STATEMENT SAID IT RECOGNIZED MOREY’S  VIEWS OFFENDED FANS IN CHINA – CALLING IT “REGRETTABLE” AND THE LEAGUE HAS “GREAT RESPECT FOR THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF CHINA.”

THAT RESPONSE FROM THE NBA GARNERED BACKLASH. THIS TIME FROM POLITICIANS IN WASHINGTON D.C. ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE INCLUDING TED CRUZ AND ELIZABETH WARREN FOR NOT STANDING BY MOREY.

THE TWEET FALLOUT SPARKED PROTESTS AT NBA GAMES WITH DEMONSTRATORS WEARING SHIRTS AND HOLDING UP SIGNS READING “FREE HONG KONG.”

MOREY HIMSELF ISSUED A CLARIFICATION A FEW DAYS LATER SAYING HIS TWEETS WERE HIS OWN AND HE DID NOT INTEND TO OFFEND ROCKET FANS AND HIS FRIENDS IN CHINA.

CHINA HOWEVER TOOK ACTION – AND NBA GAMES WERE REMOVED FROM AIRING ON CHINA’S STATE BROADCASTER FOR A PERIOD OF TIME FOLLOWING THE TWEET.

AND IN THE YEAR THAT FOLLOWED — THE LEAGUE SAID THE RIFT COST UP TO 400 MILLION DOLLARS IN LOST REVENUE.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SIGNS OF THE TWO SIDES MENDING THEIR RELATIONSHIP – INCLUDING NBA LEGEND YAO MING ATTENDING THE MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR FORMER COMMISSIONER DAVID STERN IN 2020,

CHINA THANKING THE NBA FOR SENDING MORE THAN 1 MILLION DOLLARS IN MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO ASSIST IN COVID-19 RELIEF EFFORTS DURING THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC AND ALL-STAR STEPHEN CURRY VISITING CHINA THIS PAST SUMMER.

NOW – WITH TWO GAMES ON THE SCHEDULE – THE NBA AND CHINA ARE LOOKING TO RESUME THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH A MULTIYEAR DEAL.

THE NBA SAYS IT WILL BE HOLDING A FAN DAY DURING THE WEEK OF THE GAMES THAT WILL FEATURE CELEBRITY PERFORMANCES.

TWO MORE PRESEASON GAMES ARE REPORTEDLY BEING PLANNED IN CHINA FOR 2026.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M CRAIG NIGRELLI.

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