Ties between the league and its Chinese partners have frayed, but the NBA brand has been marketable in the country for over a decade.
The Brooklyn Nets play against the Los Angeles Lakers during the NBA China Games 2019 in Shenzhen. Credit: Color China Photo via AP
Basketball is back, with the NBA set to resume play in Orlando on Thursday. But the league’s largest overseas fanbase, in China, will have a tough time tuning in.
Following Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey’s October 2019 tweet in support of protests in Hong Kong, Chinese sponsors and the country's state broadcaster, CCTV, pulled their support for the league. Players, owners, and even Morey himself went into damage control immediately after, hoping to preserve one of the biggest
Exclusive longform investigative journalism, Q&As, news and analysis, and data on Chinese business elites and corporations. We publish China scoops you won't find anywhere else.
A weekly curated reading list on China from Andrew Peaple.
A daily roundup of China finance, business and economics headlines.
We offer discounts for groups, institutions and students. Go to our Subscriptions page for details.
In an extract from his new book, The Broken China Dream, Minxin Pei looks at how Xi Jinping seized unassailable political power and forced China back down a path many had thought the country would never return to.
An award-winning podcast about the world’s two superpowers, the two men in charge, and the vital issues that affect us all. Face-Off cuts through the noise for the real story, with essential historical context.
In this season, longtime foreign correspondent for The New York Times Jane Perlez and celebrated China historian Rana Mitter cover Xi at the negotiating table, Gen Z disillusionment, China’s military rise, Pacific tensions, tech advances, and soft power.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OKPrivacy policy
