Alibaba Cloud appointed as the official cloud computing and AI partner for NBA China as the league makes its return after a six-year hiatus.
Published On 9 Oct 2025
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has teamed up with Alibaba Group in a new multi-year agreement, coinciding with the league’s return to the Chinese market through two preseason games hosted in Macau. This marks the NBA’s first presence in China since 2019.
Alibaba Group revealed on Thursday that it will supply advanced cloud computing and artificial intelligence technologies to support the NBA’s operations and enrich the fan experience on the NBA app tailored for Chinese audiences.
As part of this collaboration, Alibaba Cloud has been designated the official cloud computing and AI partner for NBA China.
The upcoming games, scheduled for Friday and Sunday, will take place in Macau’s Sands Venetian resort, under a five-year deal with Sands China, a subsidiary of Las Vegas Sands. This event represents the NBA’s inaugural games in Macau, a city renowned as the world’s premier gambling destination.
The NBA’s return to Macau comes after a prolonged absence triggered by political sensitivities surrounding the 2019 Hong Kong protests, which led to a suspension of NBA broadcasts in mainland China and a withdrawal of corporate sponsorships, severely impacting the league’s business in the region.
With an estimated 300 million basketball enthusiasts in China, the NBA aims to strengthen its foothold amid ongoing geopolitical strains between the U.S. and China by re-engaging fans through these high-profile games.
The controversy that led to the NBA’s hiatus originated from a social media post by then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, who expressed support for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. This sparked a backlash from Chinese authorities, resulting in the NBA’s broadcast blackout and the cancellation of preseason matches in China.
Notably, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal will be present at the Macau games, adding star power to the event. The venue is owned by the Adelson family, American billionaires who also own the Dallas Mavericks, an NBA franchise based in Texas.
The Brooklyn Nets, whose ownership includes Alibaba chairman Joseph Tsai, will face off against the Phoenix Suns in front of a sold-out crowd at the Sands Venetian arena.
This season also highlights the emergence of Chinese talent in the league, with 7-foot-1 (216 cm) rookie Yang Hansen expected to contribute to the Portland Trail Blazers. Yang expressed his excitement about the NBA’s renewed presence in China, sharing his hopes to bring his team and staff to play in China in the near future.
“Playing for the Blazers is an incredible opportunity, and I look forward to the day when I can bring my teammates, coaches, and management to China,” Yang said through an interpreter. “I definitely hope to see more NBA games held in China-it’s something I fully support.”
