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 gaming hub. This weekend, the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets, two fierce Texas rivals, will return to Macau for exhibition games scheduled for Friday and Sunday.
The Mavericks are owned by Miriam Adelson, the controlling shareholder of Las Vegas Sands, while the Rockets are under the ownership of Tilman Fertitta, who recently acquired Caesars Entertainment in a deal valued at $17.6 billion.
Since 2004, there have been 26 NBA China games, but only three have taken place in Macau. After the inaugural contest in 2007, the league did not return for 18 years, when the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets played two preseason games in Macau last year. Most of the NBA China games have typically occurred in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, or Shenzhen.
This year's games feature notable players, including Kevin Durant, the two-time Finals MVP for the Rockets, and Cooper Flagg, who was drafted first overall by the Mavericks in 2025 and named the league's Rookie of the Year last season. Nine-time All-Star Kyrie Irving, who has a shoe line with Chinese company ANTA, will also make his NBA return after recovering from an ACL tear sustained in March 2025.
The NBA is anticipated to finalize its expansion plans for Las Vegas by the end of this year. In February 2025, rumors surfaced that the Adelsons might relocate the Mavericks after the team's surprising trade of All-NBA guard Luka Doncic. However, the team has since quelled those rumors and is now focusing on its connections in the gaming industry. This week’s events are primarily overseen by Patrick Dumont, the CEO of Sands and governor of the Mavericks, hosted at the Venetian Macau.
The NBA has stated that this trip will highlight the Venetian resort and casino, allowing the Mavericks to enhance their brand and expand their fan base. The league views the Macau connection as a vital marketing opportunity, while Sands sees it as a way to extend its brand internationally.
The Venetian Arena, which opened just two months before the Cavaliers-Magic game, is nearing its 20th anniversary. It is considered an "NBA-ready" venue, although it ranks the smallest in capacity among current arenas.
Despite being the largest casino operator globally, Sands' stock has fallen nearly 45% in 2026. Macau gaming revenue has seen year-over-year declines for four months, but there is hope that the NBA games and the recent National Day Golden Week holiday could boost tourism.
The NBA's connection to Macau and Las Vegas aligns with its relationship with gambling. Commissioner Adam Silver was notable for advocating sports betting as early as 2014, calling for changes in law to allow states to regulate betting on professional sports. He wrote in a New York Times op-ed that this needed a federal framework with strict regulations.
Betting considerations have become increasingly prominent for the NBA, especially following various recent scandals. In 2024, the league imposed its first lifetime ban on former Raptors forward Jontay Porter for betting-related misconduct, and a major illegal betting case involving former players is currently in a New York federal court as the 2026-27 season approaches.
Although the NBA has not partnered with prediction markets like other leagues, several players, including LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo, have endorsed such platforms. Earlier this year, the league reiterated the importance of integrity in gambling discussions with the CFTC and indicated a preference for more cooperation between leagues and a potential federal sports betting overseer.
Houston’s Rockets have a strong historical connection to China, being one of the most popular teams in the country thanks to Pro Basketball Hall of Famer Yao Ming, who played for the Rockets and later served as president of the Chinese Basketball Association from 2017 to 2024. The team faced challenges in 2019 when former manager Daryl Morey tweeted support for Hong Kong protesters, leading to a significant backlash and loss of business in China.
Fertitta acquired the Rockets in 2017 for $2.2 billion, a record at the time, and the franchise’s current valuation is around $6.3 billion. As the league approaches its Las Vegas expansion, there are three groups vying for the team, with estimates for the team and a new arena ranging between $12 billion and $13 billion.
