VIDEO SHOWS: NBA-RELATED SIGNAGE AND MERCHANDISE AT NBA HOUSE IN MACAU/SOUNDBITE FROM NBA FANS SHOWS: MACAU, CHINA (OCTOBER 9, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all) 1. 'NBA HOUSE' SIGN 2. NBA LOGO 3. MERCHANDISE SHOP 4. CLOSE UP OF MERCHANDISE 5. PEOPLE MEASURING JUMPS 6. NBA PLAYERS SIGN 7. PEOPLE SHOPPING 8. MAN HOLDING UP JERSEY 9. CLOSE UP OF JERSEY 10. (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 37-YEAR-OLD NBA FANS FROM XIAMEN, FUJIAN PROVINCE, CHINA, LYU YIZHE, SAYING: "I’m incredibly, incredibly excited because this time, we came specifically to watch the NBA China Games. We’d been preparing and planning for this two months in advance. This time, it feels extra special because we’re long-time NBA fans — we’ve been watching since 1998, back in the Michael Jordan and Chicago Bulls era. Then we followed the Shaq and Kobe duo era, and later the Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady era." 11. NBA SIGN 12. NBA SHOP 13. MAN POSES FOR PHOTOGRAPH WITH CUT-OUT 14. PLAYER DOLL 15. (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 37-YEAR-OLD NBA FANS FROM XIAMEN, FUJIAN PROVINCE, CHINA, LYU YIZHE, SAYING: "For Chinese fans, the NBA feels so far away — literally half a world apart. That’s why we felt we had to come to the NBA China Games. If you ever get the chance, you must experience it live — it’s a completely different feeling from watching on TV. Plus, so many legends like Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett, and Shaquille O’Neal are coming; they’re all part of our childhood memories. Being able to see them in person is such a precious and beautiful memory." 16. WIDE OF EVENT 17. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE PLAYING BASKETBALL GAMES 18. (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 26-YEAR-OLD NBA FANS FROM HANGZHOU, ZHEJIANG PROVINCE, CHINA, MOLE ZENG, SAYING: "I believe the NBA will definitely return to China sooner or later. Even though it’s been six years since the last time, I’m still incredibly excited about this reunion. This year’s match-up is between the Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns. My favourite player is Kevin Durant — but unfortunately, he withdrew before the China Games, so I won’t get to see him this time, which I do feel a bit disappointed about. But I believe that in the future, as the NBA continues to grow in China, more and more star players will come here to meet us in person." 19. NBA PLAYER DISPLAY 20. EVENT VENUE 21. NBA SIGN STORY: Chinese NBA fans spoke on Thursday (October 9) about their excitement in being able to see the players in action as the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns prepare to play two games at Macau’s Venetian Arena on October 10 and 12. "I’m incredibly, incredibly excited because this time, we came specifically to watch the NBA China Games. We’d been preparing and planning for this two months in advance," said long-term NBA fan Lyu Yizhe, "You must experience it live — it’s a completely different feeling from watching on TV." The games mark the first time the NBA is playing in Macau, the world's largest gambling hub, and follows a years-long absence amid controversy over the 2019 Hong Kong protests. The Macau games aim to bolster the NBA's profile in China, where around 300 million people play basketball, at a time of rising political tensions between the United States and China. The NBA's absence followed a firestorm of controversy around comments made six years ago by the Houston Rockets' then general manager Daryl Morey, who posted a message on social media in support of Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests. In the aftermath, Beijing suspended the broadcast of NBA games, prompting corporate sponsors to flee and the league to suffer what it described at the time as dramatic financial consequences. Pre-season NBA games in China were also scrapped. (Production: Joyce Zhou/Andy Ragg)
(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)
