The Brooklyn Nets Return to China and Make a Huge Impact
The Brooklyn Nets are set to face off against the Phoenix Suns in China. It will mark the NBA's first return since before the pandemic, the last time being in 2019. The Nets will face the Suns two straight times at the arena in Macau's Venetian Casino and Hotel. China had basically blocked the league from returning to its country after the Nets' new owner, Joe Tsai, made a pro-democracy tweet about Hong Kong. The return and deal will also mark the first time since the NBA and Chinese technology juggernaut Alibaba announced a multi-year partnership. Joe Tsai, the Nets owner, is the company's chairman.
Ever since Yao Ming entered the league to play for the Houston Rockets in 2002, the NBA's presence and popularity in the country have grown exponentially. The NBA had estimated that around 300 million people in the country had shown interest in or played basketball back in 2019. On the players' side of things, the Nets will get to showcase to the world how playoff-ready they are. Drake Powell is set to make his debut as he is the 22nd overall pick in this past year's NBA Draft from North Carolina. He was dealing with left knee tendinopathy, which prevented him from playing in the Summer League. During his time in college, Powell shot almost 50% from the field and almost 38% from beyond the arc. Also, many fans will be interested to see how Michael Porter Jr. does as a Net and how he will lead his new team.
An NBA game isn't the only thing the Nets are planning in China. They will also revitalize 13 clinics in Hong Kong, transforming them into fan events and immersive basketball experiences. The Nets are supporting the revitalisation of basketball courts in Hong Kong. This initiative is brought by the partnership between the Nets and the WNBA’s New York Liberty. They will work with hundreds of young athletes, developing skills and teamwork on and off the court. With a special appearance by the great Jackie Chan, we will see if the Nets get the job done.
