Chinese government gonna build one basketball court in every village

[RebelAzn]

I guess this is the way to develop the game. Now all they need is get some brothers over there teaching them how to play the game American style.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=awOu2_fPZ0UU&refer=asia

NBA Uses Olympics to Tap China's `Amazing' Potential (Update1)

By Wing-Gar Cheng
Enlarge Image/Details

July 2 (Bloomberg) -- The National Basketball Association, the most-watched sports league in China, is opening its first stores in Beijing and using the Olympics to boost popularity in its biggest overseas market.

Two merchandise stores in downtown Beijing, smaller-scale versions of the league's flagship in New York, will open this month and are the first of 500 to 1,000 planned in China, NBA China Chief Executive Officer Tim Chen said. Sales of NBA goods at the 50,000 current licensed outlets may rise 40 percent this year, buoyed by the Aug. 8-24 Olympics, he said.

``We've had super growth in the last couple of years and when we look at the potential, it's just amazing,'' Chen said in an interview today. ``After the Olympics, people in China will know more about our players and that widens the fan base for the NBA.''

Lifted by the success of Houston Rockets center Yao Ming and booming basketball participation, the NBA has come a long way in China since the days when it didn't charge for its television feed two decades ago. Chen said 450 million viewers watch the NBA in China and the Chinese Basketball Association estimates 300 million people play the sport.

Numbers like that helped persuade investors including Walt Disney Co.'s ESPN and Hong Kong mogul Li Ka-Shing to pay $253 million together for an 11 percent stake in NBA China in January. Growth may continue because the league's commercial partners are concentrated in Beijing and Shanghai, Chen said.

``One day we'll go into 30 to 40 more cities and we'll have more coverage,'' Chen said in the Chinese capital. ``It's just the beginning.''

NBA Influx

The NBA is putting its stamp on the Beijing Olympics.

Yao and his teammates are scheduled to open their campaign for China's first Olympic basketball medal against a U.S. squad including Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. More than 50 NBA players will take part in the tournament.

Games will have an NBA feel too after Beijing organizers asked the league to bring its mix of loud music and flashing scoreboards to the Wukesong stadium that hosts the tournament. NBA officials are even training cheerleaders.

``We're bringing in 35 people from NBA USA to help with game presentation, to make it more fun,'' Chen added.

The NBA's involvement at Wukesong stadium will continue beyond August, with as many as 100 events slated the following year, Chen said. Those include the NBA China Games in October, involving two of the league's teams.

`Home of NBA'

``This is where we will call the home of NBA in China,'' said the 51-year-old Chen, who ran Microsoft Corp. in China before joining the basketball league in October. ``It's the best arena in Asia.''

Post-Olympics, the NBA plans tours and wants to expand its cooperation with AEG, an arena management and entertainment company, by adding venues in other cities, he said.

The NBA is benefiting from China's development of the sport's grassroots and a national league, as well the NBA's groundwork over the past 20 years, said Chris Renner, president of sports sponsorship company Helios Partners China.

``Arguably, you can see basketball become the No. 1 sport in China in the next few years, coming in really from way behind,'' Renner said in an interview in Beijing.

The NBA experienced a setback when the playoffs were pulled from Chinese television from May 23 to June 5. Chinese officials said the decision was taken because of the May 12 earthquake in Sichuan province. No other sports, including the European Champions League soccer final, were taken off air.

`We're Back'

``We're so much about cheers and fun, it's probably not very good at that time,'' Chen said. ``But we're back, that's the most important thing.''

Nineteen years after the NBA first visited China, when the then Washington Bullets took on the national team in two exhibitions, NBA China has grown to employ 100 people in four offices, with Chen among 60 in Beijing.

The downtown Beijing stores, each about 1,500 square feet, will open July 15 and 19. The rollout of as many as 1,000 stores may take place within five years, Chen said.

The expansion may continue if the league keeps drawing players from the most populous nation, with Yi Jianlian having joined Yao following his selection in the 2007 draft.

The player pool is likely to increase. China's government plans to put a basketball court in every village and added 60,000 last year, Chen said.

``Imagine in the next 10 years, in every village, there'll be a court and a hoop; no other country is doing this,'' he added. ``Having 300 million players is critical: they have hopes of becoming players.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Wing-Gar Cheng in Beijing at wgcheng@bloomberg.net.
Last Updated: July 2, 2008 06:18 EDT

[King4aDay]

Wow, sounds like they're serious! I bet we get some more NBA drafts out of China in a few more years! That would be great. It may go a long way to promote the image of the Asian athlete in this country.

[RebelAzn]

Wow, sounds like they're serious! I bet we get some more NBA drafts out of China in a few more years! That would be great. It may go a long way to promote the image of the Asian athlete in this country.

Yep. I think Chinese kids just need to play. I do believe they need to learn American style of basketball though,

I truly believe old Chinese way of developing talent won't work by the simple fact some kids develop late. You can't just pick a kid and say this kid gonna be a basketball player or whatever. You have to have a system where all kids can play and develop.

Look at this tennis player Jie Zhang. Chinese Tennis Association won't even pay her any attention because she is only 5'5". They worked with tall girls only. However, she is the one who just played in the Wimbledon semifinals. This is the same for basketball. However, they are still learning how to play with European style. They really need to play against brothers day in and day out to improve. Just look at how much Yao Ming improved since he has been in the NBA. There are plenty of tall kids in China. They just need the right system. Also, they need to send kids here to attend college here. Last year was the first time 3 Chinese kids enrolled in USA D1A colleges. Cal now has a 7'3" kid from China.

[Liang]

You can't just pick a kid and say this kid gonna be a basketball player or whatever.



Word. China's mens team has plenty of solid big men, but their guard play is not up to par. All those bigs were the result of the old-school mentality of selecting the tallest, biggest guys to groom. Now they need to develop smaller, quicker players like Chen Jianghua. I want to see a Chinese Chris Paul in the near future.

[Icepac]

Wow, sounds like they're serious! I bet we get some more NBA drafts out of China in a few more years! That would be great. It may go a long way to promote the image of the Asian athlete in this country.

I'd prefer to see more Asian Americans get drafted into the NBA.

[King4aDay]

I'd prefer to see more Asian Americans get drafted into the NBA.

Then it would be necessary to develop a basketball training program similar to what the Chinese are now doing—that, or else a larger number of AA men would have to get involved in the existing basketball programs. But, then again, many Chinese NBA players might become Asian Americans after they'd played here for a while.

[RebelAzn]

Then it would be necessary to develop a basketball training program similar to what the Chinese are now doing—that, or else a larger number of AA men would have to get involved in the existing basketball programs. But, then again, many Chinese NBA players might become Asian Americans after they'd played here for a while.

I think last year is the first year China actually sent some kids over here to go to college and play NCAA D1 Basketball. There are 3 and they are all tall kids. The tallest one is 7'3" kid who is on CAL Golden Bears. I don't know how these kids will pan out but it is a start. China has to develop kids at that level vs. just picking some kids and make them play basketball.

Unfortunately Asian American population in the USA is just too small to get some serious talent. I had a buddy who got D1 scholarships and he was only 5'10" tall. He could dunk at ease though and he could shoot lights out. He only got scholarship to couple of decent D1 programs. If he was 6'2" he probably would got into much better programs.

Frankly, China has to develop ballers by have them play more against American competition. Look how much Yao and Yi have improved just 1 year in the NBA. If they send bunch of 17 years old here playing college ball, I am sure there will be more coming up the ranks.

Basketball might be one thing that will connect blacks to Asians. This is one area where they can build some kind of bond.

[King4aDay]

I think last year is the first year China actually sent some kids over here to go to college and play NCAA D1 Basketball. There are 3 and they are all tall kids. The tallest one is 7'3" kid who is on CAL Golden Bears. I don't know how these kids will pan out but it is a start. China has to develop kids at that level vs. just picking some kids and make them play basketball.

Unfortunately Asian American population in the USA is just too small to get some serious talent. I had a buddy who got D1 scholarships and he was only 5'10" tall. He could dunk at ease though and he could shoot lights out. He only got scholarship to couple of decent D1 programs. If he was 6'2" he probably would got into much better programs.

Frankly, China has to develop ballers by have them play more against American competition. Look how much Yao and Yi have improved just 1 year in the NBA. If they send bunch of 17 years old here playing college ball, I am sure there will be more coming up the ranks.

Basketball might be one thing that will connect blacks to Asians. This is one area where they can build some kind of bond.

Wow, that's very interesting. I didn't even know that. I used to play ball with Filipino guys all the time, and they could BALL! We used to play over at the Robinson Center and these guys were dangerous at any height—and fast too! In fact, come to think of it, I have played a lot of street ball with Asian guys over the years, I never thought about it before.

I think that as far as sports goes, as a connecting point, I've never seen a better one. Once we start playing ball together, there will definitely be some lifelong friendships and mutual respect out of it. Sports is great for that.

[RebelAzn]

Wow, that's very interesting. I didn't even know that. I used to play ball with Filipino guys all the time, and they could BALL! We used to play over at the Robinson Center and these guys were dangerous at any height—and fast too! In fact, come to think of it, I have played a lot of street ball with Asian guys over the years, I never thought about it before.

I think that as far as sports goes, as a connecting point, I've never seen a better one. Once we start playing ball together, there will definitely be some lifelong friendships and mutual respect out of it. Sports is great for that.

A lot of Filipino dudes play basketball in CA. Many of them can ball for sure. Most other Asian parents don't exactly push their kids in sports since none every consider it a serious option for a career. It is the same in China. Hopefully, with popularity of basketball things will change a little. With more money, people are spending more money on stuff like fitness and sports. Chinese in China are just starting to catching the fitness wave.

Here is an coach's perspective on Chinese basketball players: http://news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080802/SPORTS/808020459

Unfortunately, most have not learn the hard core style of play that are extremely physical like in USA playgrounds. Those are things they will learn quickly if they play with brothers regularly. Oh yeah, that and trash talking :)

[minorTruths]

There are a handful of Asian Americans both men and women playing in basketball at the NCAA D1 level. I don't really follow college sports so I can't name them all off the top of my head.

As far as Asian American kids go, it's only the much more traditional parents who will steer their kids away from sports. More accepting and understanding Asian American parents who want their kids to be well rounded will allow and support their kids' sports activities. For these Asian American parents, it's not so much a career choice and playing it safe as it is about giving their kids balance and the opportunities the "American" life offers. Not all kids who play basketball since the age of 5 and up through college "division 1" play any form of professional ball afterwards let alone make it to the NBA. Yes, all may have NBA/professional bball dreams, but most realize it's not reality. I guess those who do would be the ones sitting at the end of the bench making straight As and holding up the entire teams' GPA. Seriously though, sports is much more than just a means of making money.

I play in basketball leagues almost every other season. I mainly play in one particular urban league that runs year round and is very diversified with Asian Americans/Asians, blacks, latinos, and even a few whites. I also know of other leagues and tournaments like this that is also very diverse in its players and basketball culture. Asian Americans bballers at every level on every turf have been representing for years.

It's really part of a bigger hip hop culture that connects "Asians and blacks" from hip hop music, pimped out rides, basketball shoes, and basketball itself. But I don't agree so much to the idea that basketball will bridge any racial gap. If someone is a racist, it doesn't really matter that someone else of a different ethnic or racial background shares the same love of music, sports, or what have you. On a very basic level, racists or certain type of people who don't want to connect and bond would find another racial group adopting their culture and/or lifestyle in total or in parts to be offensive and threatening especially if the other immediate group is more affluent or is perceived to hold more economic/social power.

Okay back to Chinese basketball. The reason why I think China has more Asian player prospect than any other country including USA is because of just sheer numbers. Also, if you look at Asian Americans and ask why hasn't there been a famous college baller or NBA draft pick stateside yet...the reason is because in America, Asian Americans play in the shadows of bigger more dominant competition than in China. In China, you basically have Chinese playing against Chinese where the emphasis is on the Chinese player. In such a "Chinese centric" situation no matter if its a centrally planned system or a more open market system, the result is that the player will develop much quicker and much better even if competition is less.

There are more overseas Asians (most of which are from China) being invited to play in the NBA summer leagues with every passing year. Where will the first Asian American player come from, we'll see. Ha, what if it came down to an Asian American player and a Chinese national player of equal skills and size, but they are both marginal NBA players. This means that they have a very marginal chance of making it in the NBA but still good enough to invest in. I bet that most if not all NBA teams would draft the Chinese national player over the Asian American player simply because of the marketing and buying power of China. Damn, Asian American bballers need to seriously be better than marginal or they will get screwed over by Asians from the motherland. LOL!

Last year the LA Lakers drafted Sun Yue, a 6'8 point guard from China's national team. Lakers still have draft rights to him and I think they are looking for him to compete for a spot on this year's roster. He's tall and has point guard skills a la Magic Johnson. He's a good shot blocker and passer...but his shooting lacks serious consistency. Hope he makes it though...the first Asian guard with real point guard skills in the NBA would be sweet. Anyone know Sean Chen, the Taiwanese player who tried out for the Kings a few years back. He was only 6'3 or something and could really get up and dunk it over tall defenders. I though he was good enough, but obviously he couldn't make the cut. Anyways, here is some Sun Yue's highlights from his days playing in the ABA in the US and last year's NBA summer league.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8NXJ8jW8JE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1rua3zTM00

[RebelAzn]

Sun Yue plays like an American player only because he spent like 2 seasons playing minor league basketball in the USA. It improved his game a lot. I think that's the only way for kids to improve is by playing against USA competition in those summer camps. They won't improve by playing each other in China now. When Chinese ballers become highly skilled, then playing against each other will work.

Here is a good article written about state of basketball in China:

http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_10081024

China madly in love with basketball
With a boost from the NBA, the game's popularity is spreading like wildfire in Asia. The Olympics will add even more fuel.
By Anthony Cotton
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 08/03/2008 12:20:33 AM MDT

Lakers star Kobe Bryant, one of the mainstays for Team USA, poses for Chinese fans at an Olympic tuneup game last week. (MN Chan, Getty Images )

HONG KONG — It didn't take a Superman cape for Dwight Howard to soar in the eyes of Asian basketball fans.

While posing as the Man of Steel while winning last winter's slam dunk contest at the NBA All-Star Game may have provided the Orlando Magic star his first real taste of national exposure, Howard was already something of a household name in cities such as Manila and Hong Kong.

"Sometimes, I think I may be more popular in China and Asia than in the United States," Howard said with a soft chuckle. "And in some ways, basketball here may be bigger than in the States."

As he spoke, Howard was seated courtside at the Cotai Arena, part of the glitzy Venetian resort in Macau. It's a tiny island whose main purpose seems to be separating as many tourists from as much of their money as possible, but last week gambling played second fiddle as Howard and his U.S. Olympic basketball teammates played two exhibition games in preparation for the Beijing Games.

That the exhibition games, versus Turkey and Lithuania, were routs for the Americans didn't matter a bit to the 11,885 people who packed the arena. The games, which sold out within an hour from the time tickets went on sale, were a firsthand opportunity to see the men who are considered the foremost practitioners of a sport that seems to be well on the way to becoming the region's national pastime.

According to the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), some 300 million people are hooping it up. Amazingly, those numbers are only expected to grow, partially because of the Olympics, where pool play in the run for the gold medal opens with an incredibly titillating matchup — the U.S. versus Yao Ming and the host Chinese.

Yet another factor is the ever-increasing popularity of the NBA, the seeds of which were planted as far back as two decades ago, when the league hosted the Chinese national team. In 1992, the NBA opened an office in Hong Kong; today, more than 120 people are employed in four offices scattered throughout the region.

That's not the only way in which David Stern's empire has Asia wired. The ardent fans can watch games on state-run CCTV or 50 other regional networks. In addition, less than a year ago, Beijing mobile content provider KongZhong launched the NBA's mobile website, cn.nba.com. There, cellphone subscribers can watch live games and highlights and get other services such as ringtones.

There are also marketing agreements between the NBA and diverse enterprises such as appliance-makers and dairy products — more chances for basketball-mad fans to say, "I love this game."

But perhaps the biggest sign as to what the region means may have come in January, when the NBA announced the formation of NBA China, an umbrella entity created to conduct all of the league's business in the area. At NBA China's onset, five "strategic partners" were to produce $253 million in exchange for 11 percent of the company's equity, with ESPN the most notable among them.

At the time, in what may be something of an understatement, Stern, the NBA's commissioner, said, "The opportunity for basketball and the NBA in China is simply extraordinary."

"Really passionate"

Howard has been coming to Asia since his first season with the Magic four years ago. If he didn't realize the fervor local citizens have for the game, Howard said it didn't take long to discover it.

"The first time I went to the Philippines my rookie year, the plane arrived at 2:30 in the morning," Howard said. "I looked at a court outside and it was packed; there were about 60 people playing . . . and it was raining.

"I knew then they were really passionate about basketball."

The stands during last week's exhibition games in Macau were awash with product. The 12-man U.S. team has donned the uniforms the players will wear in the Olympics just three times, but already hundreds of fans were garbed just like Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant — home and away.

There were just as many spectators wearing their heroes' NBA jerseys. For a few, it apparently wasn't cool enough to wear Jason Kidd's or Chris Paul's Dallas or New Orleans' numbers — so they put on their jerseys from California and Wake Forest, respectively. The display was part of what Alex Shaikh says is a major part of the locals' love of the game.

"It's all about the name, all about the stars," said Shaikh, 29, who was born in Hong Kong to a Hawaiian father and Spanish mother. "All the jerseys are Kobe, LeBron (James) and Yao; now they're wearing Celtics jerseys. Why? Because that's the team that won the championship."

Takin' it to the streets

Indeed, there were more than one Paul Pierce jersey and Kevin Garnett jersey present last week at Southorn Arena in Hong Kong, where close to 100 people played ball on four outdoor courts after 7 p.m.

Two of the courts were designated for pickup action; the other two were being used for summer-league play. Although the playoffs for the area's teams, which are divided into three divisions, had just ended, the squads were still out in force, playing a tournament in preparation for the start of the next season, which was just a few weeks away.

Given the CBA's numbers, it's not surprising how easy it is to find a game.

"This place is packed pretty much every night," Shaikh said.

According to Sau Ching Cheong, senior communications director for NBA China, virtually every company and factory in the area sponsors a team.

In Hong Kong's divisional play, the top teams play in the bigger indoor arenas; if you're in D-III, you're mainly relegated to outdoor courts. Like European soccer, teams can move in between divisions depending on the previous season's results, but unlike the oft-maniacal frenzy that accompanies futbol on the continent, more often than not, the aims of Chinese hoops are much more social.

"People here work so hard, they don't have that commitment to get better. It's more whatever you can, whenever you can," Shaikh said. "Companies have teams, but it's really just a reason to get people together.

"The law firms, the bankers, a lot of them are Europeans who come out here without knowing anyone, so they'll put a team together just to create a sense of camaraderie, or brotherhood, so to speak."

On this night at Southorn, while the play may have lacked the intensity of Rucker Park in Harlem — or even the YMCA in downtown Denver — it was clear the games still meant something to the participants. And even if the "gunner" shooting an airball from the corner will never make it inside to the gym standing just a few feet away — let alone Wukesong Indoor Stadium, site of the Olympic competition — there was no denying the connection he shared with Anthony, Bryant or anyone else who soon will be playing in Beijing.

"In terms of skill level, compared to the rest of the world, there's still a long way to go," Shaikh said. "But the love for the game is there."

Anthony Cotton: 303-954-1292 or acotton@denverpost.com

[awong]

i dont know why I just hate basketball and wish china chose another sport to be popular...like baseball.

[nskripchun]

i dont know why I just hate basketball and wish china chose another sport to be popular...like baseball.

hahaha.

You know what, given a few decades, maybe a quintessentially Chinese form of basketball will emerge in the same way that baseball came to Japan and blossomed as a national pastime, so much so that even today, there's older Japanese people who swear that "real baseball" was invented and refined in Japan.

On a related Chinese basketball note... I think these t-shirts are pretty dope:

http://www.espnshop.com/catalog/productdetail/model_nbr--93671/sku--33058923/cm--57831/

http://www.espnshop.com/catalog/productdetail/model_nbr--93135/sku--28908921/cm--57831/

Jiayou, Zhongguo!

[ktkbs]

That's a lot of basketball courts.

[awong]

hahaha.

You know what, given a few decades, maybe a quintessentially Chinese form of basketball will emerge in the same way that baseball came to Japan and blossomed as a national pastime, so much so that even today, there's older Japanese people who swear that "real baseball" was invented and refined in Japan.

On a related Chinese basketball note... I think these t-shirts are pretty dope:

http://www.espnshop.com/catalog/productdetail/model_nbr--93671/sku--33058923/cm--57831/

http://www.espnshop.com/catalog/productdetail/model_nbr--93135/sku--28908921/cm--57831/

Jiayou, Zhongguo!
i can see that happening lol, but maybe its just the chinese in me, but I kinda do wanted them to displace japan in baseball :D

[minorTruths]

Sun Yue plays like an American player only because he spent like 2 seasons playing minor league basketball in the USA. It improved his game a lot. I think that's the only way for kids to improve is by playing against USA competition in those summer camps. They won't improve by playing each other in China now. When Chinese ballers become highly skilled, then playing against each other will work.

I fully agree with you that Chinese ballers will need to play more against USA competition to get better quicker...hell, even by playing more frequently against European teams, Chinese basketball will improve quicker.

But I will state again that besides sheer numbers, it's only my opinion that the other reason (perhaps to a much lesser degree) for the disparity between the presence of Chinese ballers (other Asian ballers could fit here too) and Asian American ballers in the US basketball scene of which the NBA is the highest level, is because in China...the focus is on the Chinese player.

Take Sun Yue...he was good before he even played in the ABA. He made an impact almost right away. The Aoshen Olympian basketball team that played in the ABA in the US was mainly comprised of Chinese national players. Do you really know of any of the other players on that team or are they even mentioned on the same level as Sun Yue? My only point is that Sun Yue was good to begin with. Playing in the ABA gave him experience and familiarity with playing against the Americanized style of basketball. It definitely improved his game. But it was truly the naturally Chinese centric basketball system in China that allowed him to develop and afford him the opportunities he has today.

I can't wait till China takes over the world and produce basketball stars as fast and as much as they produce commodity products now...except with better quality. :)

[RebelAzn]

Why they might cheer for Kobe instead of Yao.

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-33-131/Yao-Ming-is-No-Kobe-Bryant.html

Yao Ming is No Kobe Bryant

August 7, 2008 6:13 PM

TrueHoop reader Mac Lotze is an American living in Shanghai (maybe you remember his report from last pre-season), and sends the following thoughts about the mind of the typical Chinese basketball fan.

Style and scoring ability.

This is why Kobe Bryant is the greatest sports icon in China; not Yao Ming, not Yi Jianlian, not even groundbreaking hurdle-champion Liu Xiang.

This was the prevailing sentiment amongst those polled in the sold-out Qizhong Arena in Shanghai that was painted with 24s and 8s.

Perhaps it is part of the emerging young generation in China and their unquenchable thirst for all things foreign, but it is shocking how few fans list their fellow countrymen as their heroes. The fans in attendance were easily pleased, cheering even for referees calling fouls.

Witnessing the excitement for Kobe Bryant and this young Team USA, it is not unreasonable to expect there will be wavering allegiances among the locals when Team USA laces it up against an overmatched Chinese team this Sunday.

It is something that I have found the most fascinating in my two years over here in Shanghai. I am constantly asking Chinese friends, taxi drivers, and others I encounter if they like basketball, which players they like, and if they like Yao Ming.Yao Ming

The experience has left me convinced that I like Yao Ming a lot more than the vast majority of Shanghainese.

Few of them even say they like Yao Ming.

They like Tracy McGrady a heck of a lot better than Yao Ming, often expressing that Yao is lacking a quality that translates literally as "resolute heart," but means something like determination.

I came to Shanghai with the erroneous perception that basketball has become popular in China because of Yao Ming, but it appears that he is a small piece of the puzzle. The main reasons I see that Yao Ming is not as much of a national hero as he used to be and that common sense would dictate are:

* He has yet to win a playoff series.
* His size makes him very hard to relate to for 99% of the population. Chinese fans want to idolize a player that they can imitate or relate to from a size standpoint. This is one of the main reasons hurdler Liu Xiang is much hotter and more popular than Yao Ming these days. The Chinese respect and admire people that were not given as many god-given talents, but work their tails off to become great. They can relate to that, even dream about that. That's tougher in the case of Yao Ming.
* Yao Ming is boring compared to a lot of players. I have played quite a few pickup games in China and from the 5'4 point guards to the 7-footers are all they are all showcasing their And One skills. (Yes, there are quite a few tall Chinese players all around Shanghai. With the economic prosperity that China is enjoying currently, they are privy to the type of diet that was impossible before. Not to mention the one child policy allows parents to feed their children with food that was previously divided between many kids.) They are all about the flash, excitement, dribbling through the legs, behind the back passes. Yao Ming, while being one of the best centers in the NBA, just doesn't have that. That's why even if Houston were to win a title (and I think they can now with Artest) I suspect that in the U.S. and China alike you will find it boosting T-Mac's popularity more than Yao's.

There is no doubt in my mind that the Chinese crowd will be divided on Sunday, the question is simply by how much. It is clear that if China had a better chance (maybe if Yao Ming was 100%) that the vast majority would be cheering unequivocally for China.

But because the true basketball fans realize that their chances are relatively slim, it is a harder question to answer. I asked several of the Chinese fans at the game last night about who they will be cheering for on Sunday and there was definite hesitation. After hesitating, the general consensus was that they want China to win, but that they will still be cheering for their favorite players, mostly Bryant, but for Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwight Howard too.

I relate it to the weird dynamic with fantasy sports when you have a star that is playing against your favorite team. On one hand you want your team to win, but some part of you wants to see your player shoot the lights out. If they could pick they would pick a Chinese victory, but they know that is slightly unrealistic so they will be cheering for great plays from their favorite players more than anything.

And after playing China, every game will be like a home game for Team USA. None of the non-Americans can garner the type of excitement and idolism that Kobe, Bron Bron, Melo, Howard, and Wade can deliver.

As the Chinese prospects keep maturing, it is certain that China will become increasingly relevant in the international basketball scene. It will be interesting to see how many great Chinese players it will take to start to swing popular sentiment strongly back towards China. It might just take some Iverson-type players to make that change (point guard Chen Jianghua, for instance). But my guess is it could take quite some time, and many exciting wing players, to truly change allegiances in China.

[awong]

makes sense, centers are fairly boring compared to point guards and forwards