Yao: NBA players, teams very welcome in China
Yao Ming: NBA Thrives In China Despite Past Tensions
On October 25th, 2023 at 11:47 in the morning.
China and the NBA have had some problems in their relationship in the past, but according to retired basketball star Yao Ming, the league remains highly regarded in his home country. In an interview with Reuters, Yao Ming referred to the NBA as being of the highest quality.
Yao, who currently serves as the president of the Chinese Basketball Association, became immensely popular in the United States as he was a renowned player and an eight-time All-Star for the Houston Rockets. However, he retired in 2011.
The friendly and tall Yao helped strengthen the NBA's fame in his native land. However, the bond between the organization and China has had its issues at times.
In 2019, Chinese TV channels ceased broadcasting games of the Rockets team. This was because the team's manager, Daryl Morey, expressed his support for demonstrations against the government in Hong Kong. Recently, Dwight Howard, a retired basketball player, was featured in a video advertisement where he referred to Taiwan as a separate nation, which resulted in negative reactions.
In my opinion, the NBA is of the highest quality. This is because the players have spent a significant amount of time in China and are well-known there, despite previous issues between China and the NBA. The teams and players are still warmly received in China.
Kyle Anderson, a small forward for the Minnesota Timberwolves, participated in the FIBA World Cup alongside China. Meanwhile, Jimmy Butler, an NBA All-Star from the Miami Heat, went on a journey to explore the country over the summer.
Yao went to New York this week for the first time in almost four years. He joined a Chinese group of around 30 people and had a meeting with NBA commissioner Adam Silver. This happened during a time when many people from different countries are involved in the league.
Yao spoke highly of Silver, stating that everything appears to be functioning smoothly under his leadership.
The journey happens at the same time as the Women's Tennis Association arrives back in China. The WTA recently finished its China Open after preventing competitions from taking place due to Peng Shuai's disappearance.
Yao, who has been a close friend of the previous top player in doubles, had a meal with Peng around two months prior and confirmed that she was in good shape.
