Landmark deal before the Macau Games
The NBA has entered into a multi-year partnership with Alibaba Cloud, officially returning to China after six years. The deal appoints Alibaba Cloud as the official cloud computing and AI partner of NBA China.
The deal, announced on Thursday, equates to two preseason matches in Macau, taking place at Sands China’s Venetian grounds. The partnership focuses on using Alibaba’s artificial intelligence and data tools to improve fan experiences on the NBA app in China.
The move marks a major step for the league, which is looking to rebuild its relationship with Chinese fans and partners after years of tension.
The NBA’s comeback after six years
The league last played in China in 2019. That year, a tweet from then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey in support of the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong led to major consequences. Beijing suspended NBA broadcasts and several sponsors pulled out, causing what the league later described as significant financial losses.
Now the NBA wants to reset its image through live events. The Brooklyn Nets, owned by Alibaba Chairman Joseph Tsai, face the Phoenix Suns in two sold-out games on Friday and Sunday. NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal will attend both games, adding extra star power to the occasion.
Growing basketball culture in China
China remains one of the largest basketball markets. The NBA estimates that about 300 million people play the sport there. These Macau games are designed to reconnect with that massive audience and strengthen the NBA’s global footprint.
This preseason also spotlights Yang Hansen, a 7-foot-1 rookie from China who recently joined the Portland Trail Blazers. Yang expressed his excitement about the return of the competition.
“First of all, I want to say that playing for the Blazers is a great thing for me,” he said through an interpreter. “I wish that I can take all the players and coaches to China in the future. I certainly wish for more matches in China.”
With Alibaba’s technology and the NBA’s renewed presence, this partnership marks a new era for basketball in China – an era where innovation, culture and global connection converge.
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