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Basketball has been a part of Chinese culture for over a century, with the game introduced to the country in 1896, just a few years after its inception in the US. The sport has helped bridge the gap between the two countries, with China sending teams to compete against other nations as a way to foster diplomatic relations. The popularity of the sport in China has been immense, with over 625 million fans in 2020, and it has also become a platform for American players to showcase their skills and earn lucrative salaries. The success of Chinese players like Yao Ming in the NBA has further strengthened the connection, with NBA games being televised in China and Chinese players making their mark in the league.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Popularity of basketball in China | 625 million fans in 2020, including 143 million hardcore fans |
| Chinese basketball players in the NBA | Six Chinese nationals have played in the NBA, including Yao Ming, Wang Zhizhi, Yi Jianlian, and Zhou Qi |
| NBA games televised in China | Started in the 1980s; resumed in 2021 after a hiatus in 2019 |
| NBA teams visiting China | Washington Wizards (formerly Washington Bullets) in 1979; Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans in 2020 |
| Chinese basketball players in CBA | Stephon Marbury, Jordan Crawford, Andray Blatche |
| American basketball players in CBA | Jeff Swinger, Josh Akognon, Kyle Terada |
| International competitions | China's women's team won a bronze medal in the 1984 Olympics; U.S. women's 3x3 basketball team defeated China in 2024 |
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What You'll Learn
The introduction of basketball to China
Basketball was introduced to China in 1896, just four years after its invention in the United States. The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) played a key role in bringing the sport to China, establishing the first YMCA in Tianjin in 1895. The game was also introduced by a government official named Piengiane. Basketball quickly took off in China and became deeply ingrained in the culture.
During the Chinese Civil War in the 1930s, basketball continued to be played, and it was endorsed by the first prime minister of the People's Republic of China, Chou En Lai, for its contribution to fitness and teamwork. The sport was even encouraged during the Cultural Revolution and the reign of Chairman Mao Zedong.
In the 1950s, the People's Liberation Army (PLA), a branch of the Chinese Army, was encouraged to play basketball to build teamwork and unison. The PLA promoted positive messages through basketball, such as "Boost National Image" and "Friendship First, Competition Second". One of the prominent PLA teams was the Bayi Rockets, which included military personnel.
After the formation of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the country began to use basketball as a tool for creating diplomatic relations. Initially, China sent teams to compete against other socialist nations, and eventually, they travelled to countries outside the Socialist Bloc, such as Switzerland and France in 1959.
The introduction of the National Basketball Association (NBA) to China in the 1980s further boosted the sport's popularity. The Washington Bullets (now the Washington Wizards) became the first NBA team to be invited to China in 1979, participating in two exhibition games against the Chinese national team and the Bayi Rockets. Due to the efforts of NBA commissioner David Stern, Chinese state media began televising NBA games, exposing the country to the league during its peak with stars like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. This led to a massive increase in the NBA's fan base in China, with over 450 million fans.
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The Chinese Basketball Association
The CBA has been instrumental in popularising basketball in China, with over 625 million fans of the sport in the country as of 2020. The league has also fostered the development of talented players, with several CBA players going on to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the United States. These include Wang Zhizhi, Mengke Bateer, Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian, Sun Yue, and Zhou Qi. Yao Ming, a Chinese basketball legend, became the first player to score an average of 20+10 in his rookie NBA season and was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In February 2017, Yao Ming was elected president of the Chinese Basketball Association, becoming the first non-official to hold the post.
The CBA has had its challenges, including a suspension of relations with the Houston Rockets in 2019 due to a tweet by the team's general manager in support of the Hong Kong protests. Additionally, in 2019, NBA games were not televised in China due to issues between the NBA and the country. However, the relationship between the two has improved, with NBA games being broadcast again on CCTV networks.
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The People's Liberation Army and basketball
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the military wing of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the People's Republic of China (PRC). It consists of four services: Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, and Rocket Force; and four arms: Aerospace Force, Cyberspace Force, Information Support Force, and Joint Logistics Support Force. The PLA is often described as the largest military in the world, with over two million active-duty members.
In the 1950s, the People's Liberation Army was encouraged to play basketball to build teamwork and unison. They played in teams, with one of the prominent teams being the Bayi Rockets, which consisted of people from the military. The Bayi Rockets were a force in Chinese basketball and produced one of China's first NBA players, Wang Zhizhi. The army used basketball to promote positive messages such as "Boost National Image" and "Friendship First, Competition Second".
The popularity of basketball in China has been supported by the Chinese Basketball Association, which hosts professional play in the country. The sport's popularity reached its peak with the emergence of the National Basketball Association (NBA), largely due to Yao Ming, who became a hall-of-fame player in the United States. In 1979, the Washington Bullets (now the Washington Wizards) became the first NBA team to be invited to China, playing two exhibition games against the Chinese national team and the Bayi Rockets.
Basketball has played a role in fostering diplomatic relations between China and the United States. After the formation of the PRC in 1949, China used basketball as a tool to create diplomatic ties, initially within the Socialist Bloc and eventually with other countries, including the United States after ping pong diplomacy in the 1970s. The cultural differences between Chinese and American basketball are notable, with Americans viewing the basketball court as a stage for self-expression and a place to showcase their skills and personalities, while Chinese basketball is relatively calm and harmonious, with a weaker physical confrontation style.
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The NBA's growing popularity in China
Basketball was introduced to China in the late 1890s by the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), which established the first YMCA in Tianjin in 1895. In 1935, basketball was introduced as a national pastime, and in 1936 the Chinese formed a basketball Olympic team due to the sport's popularity. After the formation of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949, China used basketball as a way to create diplomatic relations.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the most popular sports league in China, with about 625 million fans in the country in 2020. The NBA has been able to grow its Chinese fan base through summer tours and marketing practices that appeal to the primary audience in China. The league also established NBA China in 2008 to manage its business operations in the region, which is now worth more than $4 billion.
The NBA's popularity in China can also be attributed to the success of Chinese players in the league, such as Yao Ming, who became the first player to score an average of 20+10 in his rookie NBA season and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Other popular NBA players in China include Yi Jianlian, Jeremy Lin, and the late Kobe Bryant.
The NBA's relationship with China has not always been smooth, however. In 2019, several Chinese companies suspended their operations with the NBA after a dispute involving a tweet by a Houston Rockets executive in support of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. However, as of 2021, the relationship between the NBA and China appears to be improving, with NBA games being broadcast on CCTV networks again.
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Chinese basketball players in the NBA
Basketball has long been a popular sport in China, with the country's first exposure to the NBA coming in 1979 when the Washington Bullets (now the Washington Wizards) played two exhibition games against the Chinese national team and the Bayi Rockets. The sport's popularity in China has been supported by the Chinese Basketball Association, which has hosted professional play in the country. In the 1950s, the People's Liberation Army (PLA), a branch of China's army, encouraged its over two million members to play basketball to build teamwork and unison. The PLA produced one of China's first NBA players, Wang Zhizhi, who played for the Bayi Rockets.
Yao Ming is perhaps the most famous Chinese basketball player. He played for the Shanghai Sharks of the CBA and the Houston Rockets of the NBA. Yao was the first player to score an average of 20+10 in his rookie NBA season and was named to the All-NBA Team five times. He was also the tallest active player in the NBA during his final season, at 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 m). Yao's success in the NBA brought the league immense popularity in China, with the country's state media televising NBA games in the 1980s.
Other Chinese players in the NBA include Mengke Bateer, Cui Yongxi, Tom Meschery, Yi Jianlian, and Sun Yue. In total, six Chinese nationals have played in the NBA. In 2019, the relationship between the NBA and China experienced some problems, with companies like Vivo and Tencent suspending operations with the league. However, in 2021, the relationship appeared to be mending, as NBA games resumed broadcasting on CCTV networks in China.
Cultural differences between Chinese and American basketball have been noted, with Americans viewing the basketball court as a stage for self-expression and a place to showcase their physical fitness and personal capabilities. Chinese basketball, influenced by traditional sports culture, is relatively calm and harmonious, with less emphasis on physical confrontation and competition. These differences in playing styles and philosophies have influenced the teaching and development of the sport in the two countries.
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Frequently asked questions
The game was introduced to China by a government official named Piengiane in 1896, just a year after the first game of basketball was played in the United States.
The popularity of basketball in China has led to the emergence of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the country. The NBA has been working to expand into Asia, with China being a specific focus. This has resulted in NBA games being televised in China, with over 450 million fans in the country.
Yao Ming is the most famous Chinese basketball player and was the first player to score an average of 20+10 in his rookie NBA season. Other notable players include Wang Zhizhi, Yi Jianlian, and Zhou Qi.
