Igniting one of the last major sports stories of the 2010s, Morey urged his followers to "fight for freedom" and "stand with Hong Kong" amid pro-democracy upheaval in the country. That earned the NBA significant pushback from China—which governs Hong Kong as a special administrative region—and cost the league hundreds of millions of dollars.

Commissioner Adam Silver believes the NBA could stage games in China again, five years after a conflict over the Hong Kong democracy protests prompted a backlash against the league by Chinese broadcasters.

It’s been five years since the last NBA game was held in the Asian country. Statements by Rockets GM Daryl Morey, triggered a break in relations.

Commissioner Adam Silver believes that the NBA could stage games in China again, five years after a controversy over the Hong Kong democracy protests prompted a backlash against the top-flight North American league.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday he expects his league will once more play games in China after having not done so since 2019, according to multiple media reports.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver wants China to host games again."I think we will bring back games to China at some point," Silver said Thursday while speaking at a conference at Columbia University, according to The Athletic's Mike Vorkunov.

The NBA is exploring a possible return to China after a five-year hiatus following a fallout over Hong Kong democracy protests. Commissioner Adam Silver expressed optimism during a sports management conference,

NBA commissioner Adam Silver believes his league could host games in China again after it suffered a "dramatic" hit to its bottom line and strained relations with the country five years ago.

It's been five years since the NBA played a series of games in China and promptly courted controversy when then-Rocket general manager Daryl Morey showed support for a free Hong Kong - infuriating China's government and threatening all of the NBA's business relationships there.