For the first time since 2019, NBA preseason games will be played in China.

ESPN's Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst reported on Thursday that the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns will face off during two preseason contests in Macao. The games will take place in Oct. 2025.

The matchups are set to occur at the Venetian Arena, which is part of the Las Vegas Sands conglomerate controlled by the the majority ownership group of the Dallas Mavericks (via Charania and Windhorst).

An agreement is expected to be officially announced on Friday and two more contests are also planned for China in 2026, according to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press.

The last NBA preseason action in China also featured Brooklyn, as the team took on the Los Angeles Lakers in a pair of games.

The association consistently held preseason matchups in China prior to 2019. Since 2004, 17 NBA teams played a total of 28 preseason games in the country (h/t Charania and Windhorst). Preseason clashes have also taken place at the Venetian Arena, with the most recent battle featuring the Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers in 2007.

Despite the long stretch since an NBA game was played in China, there has been optimism surrounding a return. Nets owner Joe Tsai previously said that the league would "love" to resume playing games in the country, via Brian Lewis of the New York Post.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has also expressed his belief that a return to China would be possible.

"I think we will bring games back to China at some point," Silver said on Oct. 10, per ESPN.

The Nets have opened the 2024-25 season at 10-13, a commendable start given their 32-50 record last year. Phoenix sits at 12-8 through 20 games and features a star trio that includes Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.