On October 20, 2007, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers faced off against Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic in Macau, marking the NBA's first-ever game in this global gaming hub. This weekend, the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets will bring their rivalry to Macau for a series of exhibition games.
The games are scheduled for Friday and Sunday, showcasing two teams owned by prominent figures in the gambling industry. The Mavericks are under the ownership of Miriam Adelson, a major shareholder in Las Vegas Sands, while the Rockets are owned by Tilman Fertitta, who purchased Caesars Entertainment earlier this year in a deal worth $17.6 billion.
Since 2004, there have been 26 NBA games in China, but only three have taken place in Macau. After the Cavaliers-Magic game, the NBA returned to Macau 18 years later, with the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets playing there last preseason. Most games in China have been hosted in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, or Shenzhen.
The upcoming games are expected to feature star players, including two-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant from the Rockets and Cooper Flagg, who was picked first overall by the Mavericks in the 2025 draft. Flagg was named NBA Rookie of the Year last season. Additionally, nine-time All-Star Kyrie Irving will make his return after recovering from an ACL injury suffered in March 2025.
Patrick Dumont, CEO of Sands and governor of the Mavericks, is hosting the events at the Venetian Macau resort. The NBA sees the visit as an opportunity to promote the Venetian and expand the Mavericks' reach internationally. The league stated that the Macau connection is a major marketing asset.
The Venetian Arena, which hosted its first NBA game when it was only two months old, is approaching its 20th anniversary this year. Although described as "NBA-ready," it ranks lower in capacity compared to other current venues, seating 14,000 fans.
Las Vegas Sands is the largest casino operator globally, but its stock has decreased nearly 45% this year. Meanwhile, Macau's gaming revenue has been in decline for four consecutive months. Stakeholders are hoping that the NBA events, coupled with the Golden Week holiday observed in early October, will boost tourism.
The NBA's efforts in Macau and Las Vegas are closely tied to the league's relationship with gambling. Commissioner Adam Silver was the first major sports executive to advocate for legalized sports betting in the US, calling for regulatory changes in a 2014 New York Times op-ed.
Silver's comments came several years before the Supreme Court's ruling on PASPA in 2018, which allowed states to legalize betting. Recently, betting scandals have emerged, leading to the first-ever lifetime ban issued by the league to former player Jontay Porter due to a betting scheme. This comes as a major illegal betting case involving other former players is underway in federal court.
While the NBA has not partnered with prediction markets like other leagues, some players, including LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo, have endorsed these controversial platforms. Silver has expressed a desire for greater cooperation between leagues and federal regulators regarding betting integrity.
The Rockets also have a significant history in China, previously considered the country’s most popular team thanks to Hall of Famer Yao Ming. The 7'6" Ming, an eight-time All-Star for the Rockets, served as president of the Chinese Basketball Association from 2017 to 2024.
In 2019, a tweet by former Rockets GM Daryl Morey supporting pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong caused a major fallout, leading to halted broadcasts and significant revenue losses for the NBA. After a six-year hiatus, the league finally returned to China last year with games in Macau.
Fertitta acquired the Rockets in 2017 for a then-record $2.2 billion, with the team's recent valuation around $6.3 billion. As the NBA considers expansion to Las Vegas, several groups are competing for the franchise, with estimates for securing a team and a new arena reaching between $12 and $13 billion.
