The NBA has officially re-entered China via Macau. In a first, the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets clashed in Macau in their first preseason game, marking the NBA’s return to China for the first time since 2019. The matchup, held on October 10, 2025, following the Phoenix Suns’ dramatic 132-127 overtime victory over the Brooklyn Nets. This game was part of a two-game preseason series in Macau, highlighting the league’s efforts to reconnect with its massive Chinese fanbase after such a long absence.

However, what grabbed the most attention was the presence of other global stars on the court. In a surprising crossover of events, Devin Booker was spotted alongside the football icon David Beckham and Karate legend Jackie Chan, in a postgame scene,  This marked the league’s return to China after a six-year hiatus.

And the return was nothing short of spectacular. Fans poured into The Venetian Arena, with 11,317 in attendance witnessing a vibrant opening featuring illuminated lion dancers in the Nets’ and Suns’ colors. “Thank you for letting us back,” Suns guard Dillon Brooks told the crowd during the opening speech, while Fanbo Zeng, a Nets player from Harbin, greeted fans in Mandarin: “Have a lovely night.” Fans had come for the excitement of the atmosphere, with one attendee from Hainan noting he was most eager to see Devin Booker, calling him “one of the more talented players tonight.”

And the courtside sparkled with global and local stars, including actors Jackie Chan, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Carina Lau Ka-ling, football icon David Beckham, and pianist Gina Alice Redlinger. If they were not enough to grab global attention, NBA also marked a historical multi year deal with Alibaba founder Jack Ma. Nets owner Joe Tsai, accompanied by his wife Clara Wu Tsai, were also present, cheering for their team.

As for the game itself, the Nets took an early lead, a 26-8 advantage and held a 71-59 edge until halftime. The second half, showed a scope of comeback for the Suns. They outscored Brooklyn 31-13 in the third quarter. The game was eventually tied at 121 on the buzzer, forcing overtime. In the extra period, Jordan Goodwin’s clutch three-pointer with 13 seconds left sealed the win.

For a country like China, where 300 million people play Basketball, the 3 hours long game offered them a much needed thrill. Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker also emphasized the significance of the NBA’s return to China. “It’s super-important, we have a big fan base out here in China, and we have Chinese players in the NBA,” Booker said, highlighting the growing popularity of both the sport and the players in the country.

The four-time All-Star,  who contributed 18 points, 5 assists, and 5 steals added, “Being here on their homeland and letting them see us play in person, for the youths and the next generation of Chinese players getting this experience on their land, [can] open up their inspiration, you know, make them feel they have a chance [to play in the NBA].” He also shared his excitement about reconnecting with the fans: “The game of basketball touches everywhere in the world, but especially in China… Seeing the reaction of the fans, their faces lit up just upon our arrival. So it’s important for us and for the league to be here in person and doing this.” Booker acknowledged the love and enthusiasm from Chinese fans is a force to behold, adding, “I know I have tremendous respect for the country of China [and] they have the same for us.”

This seems like the perfect rebound after the fallout in 2019, when the then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey posted a message in support of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests. In response, Beijing suspended broadcasts of NBA games, leading to significant financial losses. Now, there is still a strained political relationship between the two countries, but all conflicts fade on the court.

Devin Booker ready to prove the doubters wrong in 2025-26

Devin Booker was notably absent from NBA.com’s recent survey of league general managers. He wasn’t added in the top-five list for shooting guards, where Anthony Edwards topped with 70%, followed by Donovan Mitchell at 13%, Luka Dončić with 7%, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at 7%, and lastly Stephen Curry at 3%. He was also omitted from the point guards list. Yet Booker is focused on leading the Suns roster. “I’m trying to keep it in house, man. We’re trying to just stack days… I think the quicker we minimize those mistakes, making the same mistakes, we’ll let our full potential be what it can be with the talent that we have and the people that we have,” he had said at Suns Media Day.

After the deal which traded Kevin Durant into the Houston Rockets, and brought Booker and Green into the Suns, Booker has stepped fully into the role of the Suns’ leader. Jalen Green, who was the Rockets’ top scorer last season, joined him in the backcourt, giving the team a fresh partnership. “I’m eager to get back to it. I’m excited. Obviously, we’ve had some changes with the roster. We’ve had some changes with the coaches,” Booker said. “So think it’s a big responsibility for me to be a leader and continue being a leader and getting everybody on the same page so we can start this thing off the right way.”