The NBA has been banned in China for the majority of the 2019-2020 season after Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey supported the people of Hong Kong and criticized China.
China ending its relationship with the NBA led to the facing more than $300 million in lost revenue as China’s CCTV refused to broadcast NBA games and numerous Chinese companies pulled their support of NBA teams. In a new update, ESPN reported that CCTV will be broadcasting Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat. Since the fallout in October, the NBA has reportedly given the country a considerable amount of goodwill which has led to the league repairing its relationship with China. CCTV announced in a statement:
“During the recent Chinese National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations, the NBA sent their well wishes to fans in China. We also took note of the league has been continuously delivering goodwill [to China], particularly making positive contributions to Chinese people’s fight against COVID-19 pandemic.”
China's national broadcaster CCTV announced today that it will show Game 5 of the NBA Finals after a season-long ban on showing NBA games … citing the league's assistance to China in fighting COVID-19 for lifting the ban
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) October 9, 2020
After a one-year suspension that began last October, China’s CCTV says it will resume showing the NBA with Game 5 of the Finals tonight.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 9, 2020