NBA China Games: Celtics, Trail Blazers thrown into mix of teams coming in next few years

With Macau to host eight more matches over the next four years, the team line-up beyond next year’s fixture remains a hot topic

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The Portland Trail Blazers could be among the teams interested in playing in the NBA China Games now they have China’s Yang Hansen (left) on their books. Photo: AP

Published: 6:00pm, 13 Oct 2025

This year’s NBA China Games concluded on Sunday night, but close-season developments on and off the court have added to the intrigue over which teams could make a visit in the coming seasons.

After the Brooklyn Nets beat the Phoenix Suns 111-109 in Macau on Sunday to split their two-game pre-season series, the Post revealed the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets would face off in another mouthwatering clash at The Venetian Arena in 12 months.

A combined attendance of 22,634 from two matches organisers described as sold out saw the return of NBA action to China for the first time in six years.

“I think we both missed each other. China has missed the NBA,” five-time All-Star Tim Hardaway said. “I’m very happy we’re back, because the relationship [with China] is very important to the NBA.”

With eight more matches still to be staged in the casino city over the next four years, the team line-up beyond 2026 remains a hot topic.

Patrick Dumont (centre) with Chinese icon Yao Ming at the Venetian Arena on Sunday. Photo: Karma Lo

Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont, who is president and chief operating officer of Las Vegas Sands – which runs The Venetian in Macau – had shown interest in bringing the NBA to this part of the world even before he acquired the Western Conference team in 2023, said NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

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