After six long years, the NBA finally made its return to Chinese soil this past weekend. And where better for the revival than Macau, the city that glitters like a Vegas fever dream with Chinese and Portuguese heritage? RADII was there this past Sunday, October 12, to witness first hand as the Brooklyn Nets edged out the Phoenix Suns in a nail-biting finish that left 15,000 fans at the Venetian Arena breathless. This wasn’t just basketball. It was a homecoming.

For decades, basketball has been more than a sport in China. From pickup games in Beijing hutongs to the neon-lit courts of Shanghai, the sound of all net—or the bounce off of a backboard—is as common as the hum of traffic. The NBA’s roots here run deep, dating back to when Yao Ming first broke into the Houston Rockets lineup in 2002, turning millions of young Chinese into lifelong fans. But after political tensions froze live games in 2019, the absence was palpable.

That’s why this weekend’s matchup between the Nets and Suns felt electric. The crowd was diverse, with die-hard fans, local families, expats, influencers, and even a few global icons sharing the stadium. Jackie Chan, Yao Ming, Jeremy Lin, Shaquille O’Neal, and even David Beckham, to name a few, were spotted courtside, sparking viral moments across social media. And then, amidst the time-out TikTok dancers, lion dances, and slam dunk acrobatics, there was the half-time show by the multitalented Henry Lau, who brought out our boy MC Jin (we mean… New Jin!) as a surprise guest performer—another seamless showcase of the NBA’s East meets West.

But the energy wasn’t confined to the stadium. Macau’s hospitality industry got a major boost thanks to the NBA’s return, with hotels, restaurants, and nightlife venues reporting record traffic and a massive spike in tourism revenue. Certain casinos have even been reporting a 20 to 30% increase in business—a clear reminder that sports and entertainment remain powerful economic drivers.

In the context of the NBA’s broader relationship with China, the event marked a turning point. Since its first exhibition game in Beijing in 2004, the league has been instrumental in building bridges between Chinese and American audiences—a rare constant in an often complex relationship. Over the years, NBA China has partnered with local schools, brands, and broadcasters to nurture homegrown talent and bring the sport to grassroots levels.

And it’s paying off. From Zhejiang’s CBA (Chinese Basketball Association) youth academies to streetball collectives like the former Sina 3×3 Golden League, China’s basketball ecosystem was—and still is—thriving. The NBA’s renewed presence amplifies that growth—it’s a statement that the sport is back, and bigger than ever.

Watching the Nets scrape out a 111-109 win, we couldn’t help but think about the next generation of fans in the stands. For China’s youth, seeing their NBA heroes up close, feeling the raw energy of a live game, watching a battle like the Nets-Suns go down to the wire, has a compelling potential to ignite dreams. And beyond that, the NBA’s revived presence provides tangible pathways, not just for players, but for coaches, trainers, and sports professionals, fostering the growth of basketball at every level.

The NBA’s return serves as more than just a rebound for sports diplomacy. It’s a reminder of how cultural exchange works best—through shared passions that transcend politics. As the world becomes increasingly divided and blurred at the same time, basketball offers something pure, universal, and deeply human.

Macau might have hosted the game, but the real victory belongs to the millions of fans across the Chinese mainland who finally got to feel the pulse of live NBA action again. And if Sunday’s roar was any indication, the game has only just begun.

All photos by RADII.