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Jonathan White

Next month’s NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta is proving controversial with some of the league’s star players but the event will also mark the return of basketball to Chinese television, according to reports.
The All-Star Game, which will take place on March 7 in the US, is set to be broadcast on the state-owned China Central Television as reported by Chinese basketball journalist Zhao Huanyu on Saturday.
“If there are no surprises, CCTV will resume broadcasting NBA events during the All-Star Weekend in early March, as many fans have been waiting for a long time,” he wrote on Weibo.
“CCTV will not only air the All-Star games, but will also resume the daily game broadcasts,” Zhao said. He confirmed to Chinese newspaper Global Times on Sunday that CCTV had agreed a deal with the NBA last year.

A media source in China reveals China Central Television(CCTV), the state broadcaster, are likely to resume airing NBA from the 2021 NBA All-star. After Daryl Morey's tweet, though NBA could be watched on Tencent, CCTV suspended airing NBA except for the 2020 NBA Finals Game 5&6. pic.twitter.com/8tlIaMe4nT
— Titan Sports Plus (@titan_plus) February 20, 2021

The CCTV sports channel stopped broadcasting NBA games in October, 2019, following then Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey’s infamous tweet supporting Hong Kong protesters.
That signalled an end to more than 30 years of NBA games being shown on China’s national terrestrial television network.
NBA returns to Chinese state TV a year after Hong Kong controversy
Games – minus those of the Rockets, who only returned this season – swiftly resumed on online streaming giant Tencent but CCTV refused to buckle until the NBA Finals in October, almost a year to the day after Morey’s tweet.
CCTV showed the final two games of the series between the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers but games have not been shown this season, which started in December.
That is set to change next month, though it remains to be seen if all the NBA’s 30 teams will be welcomed back to screens.
When the Rockets ruled China: Yao Ming’s NBA debut season
Morey’s new employer the Philadelphia 76ers are currently blacklisted on Tencent.
The All-Star Game has been described by NBA Finals MVP and record 17-time All-Star LeBron James as a “slap in the face” to players during the Covid-19 affected season.
“I have zero energy and zero excitement about an All-Star Game this year,” this year’s captain of the Western conference team and fan vote leader said earlier this month.


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Guardiola backs player strike, China’s next NBA star, what happened overnight in world of sport

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Meet Karl-Anthony Towns, Jordyn Woods’ NBA player boyfriend: he and Kylie Jenner’s former bestie began dating after bonding over losing a parent

NBA (National Basketball Association)

All-Star game will see NBA return to Chinese TV: reports

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers takes on James Harden of the Houston Rockets in the NBA in January. Photo: AFP

NBA returns to Chinese state TV a year after Daryl Morey Hong Kong tweet controversy

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope celebrates with forward LeBron James after making a three pointe against the Miami Heat in game five of the 2020 NBA Finals. Photo: USA Today Sports

NBA-China: Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey’s Hong Kong tweet one year on

Protesters shout slogans at Southorn Playground in Hong Kong on October 15, 2019, during a rally in support of NBA basketball Rockets general manager Daryl Morey and against comments made by Lakers superstar LeBron James. Photo: AFP

Jared Dudley defends LeBron James over Daryl Morey Hong Kong tweet criticism

Los Angeles Lakers forward Jared Dudley sits on the bench during the third quarter in game five of the Western Conference first-round play-off series against the Portland Trail Blazers at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 29, 2020. Photo: TNS

Houston Rockets return to China screens, 15 months after Hong Kong tweet ignited NBA controversy

LeBron James, of the Los Angeles Lakers, battles with James Harden, of the Houston Rockets, in an NBA game. Photo: AFP

NBA-China crisis: Daryl Morey’s tweet controversy follows him to Philadelphia as streaming giant Tencent blocks 76ers

Tencent users in China will have to look elsewhere now if they want to see players like Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons. Photo: USA Today

PORTLAND, OREGON - DECEMBER 26: P.J. Tucker #17 of the Houston Rockets reacts after he is called for a foul against the Portland Trail Blazers during the third quarter at Moda Center on December 26, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Steph Chambers/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Cleveland Cavaliers' Darius Garland (10) drives past Philadelphia 76ers' Seth Curry (31) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Sport

China

Basketball


CCTV stopped showing the league in aftermath of then Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey’s controversial tweet in October 2019
Last season’s Finals were shown on terrestrial channel but games only available online since



CCTV stopped showing the league in aftermath of then Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey’s controversial tweet in October 2019.


Tencent

CCTV

All-Star game will see NBA return to Chinese TV: reports

CCTV stopped showing the league in aftermath of then Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey’s controversial tweet in October 2019 Last season’s Finals were shown on terrestrial channel but games only available online since

CCTV stopped showing the league in aftermath of then Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey’s controversial tweet in October 2019

Last season’s Finals were shown on terrestrial channel but games only available online since