by sportswriter Cao Yibo
BEIJING, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) — The 12 months 2024 marked a watershed for Chinese basketball, as management modifications throughout the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) positioned one of many nation’s most cherished sports activities at a pivotal crossroads.
The “quiet earthquake” reverberated all through the basketball group, compounded by the nationwide crew’s underwhelming efficiency on the Paris Olympic Games. As the game appears to be like forward to the Los Angeles 2028 cycle, it faces not solely challenges but in addition new alternatives to reform and develop.
YAO’S STEP DOWN: THE SEVEN-YEAR ITCH
One of essentially the most defining occasions of 2024 was Yao Ming’s resignation as CBA president in late October. The FIBA Hall of Famer and former Houston Rockets All-Star middle assumed the position in February 2017 and was re-elected in December 2022.
Under his seven-year management, Yao spearheaded reforms geared toward modernizing Chinese basketball, integrating sports activities with training, revising overseas participant insurance policies, and bettering league operations.
While Yao’s efforts introduced vital progress, additionally they drew combined opinions. Critics pointed to persistent challenges, comparable to inconsistent nationwide crew performances and underdeveloped grassroots applications. Nevertheless, Yao’s affect and dedication left an indelible mark on Chinese basketball.
In an unique interview with Xinhua, Yao described his choice to step down as a “strategic move” to make sure a clean transition for the following management. “It is crucial for the new administration to have the time and stability to oversee a complete Olympic cycle,” Yao stated. He expressed optimism about the way forward for Chinese basketball and confirmed his intention to stay concerned in its growth.
Guo Zhenming, who succeeded Yao as CBA president, acknowledged the challenges forward. “On one hand, Yao’s unique ability to unify resources and drive reform is unparalleled,” Guo stated. “On the other hand, achieving the national goal of establishing China as a global sports powerhouse by 2035 requires a concerted and sustained effort.”
Guo emphasised the significance of constructing on Yao’s basis. “We are committed to fostering a vibrant basketball ecosystem that nurtures young talent and inspires a deeper love for the game among fans,” he stated. “Our mission is to ensure that every child with a passion for basketball has the opportunity to play and grow, while also identifying and developing players capable of thriving on the international stage.”
MEN’S BASKETBALL: A POSSIBLE TURNING POINT
Despite the CBA’s formidable imaginative and prescient, China’s males’s nationwide crew faces a grim actuality. The crew did not qualify for the Paris Olympics following a disappointing run on the 2023 FIBA World Cup, underscoring the urgency for reform.
The departure of head coach Aleksandar Djordjevic in June marked a brand new chapter. The Serbian basketball legend stepped down following a shock defeat to Japan on the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers, ending China’s 88-year profitable streak towards Japan in main FIBA occasions.
Guo Shiqiang, a former nationwide crew guard and skilled coach, took over. Under his management, the crew gained solely two of 13 summer season video games towards formidable opponents, together with NBA Summer League groups and Spain’s Liga ACB membership Joventut. The lack of offensive firepower was evident, because the crew failed to attain greater than 70 factors in 9 of these matches.
While the crew closed the 12 months with victories over Guam and Mongolia, the true check awaits in February 2025, after they face Japan within the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers. Guo Shiqiang acknowledged the challenges and expressed dedication to rebuild confidence and competitiveness.
A brilliant spot in an in any other case tough 12 months was ahead Cui Yongxi’s entry into the NBA. The 21-year-old signed a two-way contract with the Brooklyn Nets and appeared in 5 NBA regular-season video games, changing into the seventh Chinese participant to compete within the league. However, Cui’s progress was halted by a season-ending ACL damage in December, additional exposing China’s fragile frontline.
Despite Cui’s setback, rising abilities like Zeng Fanbo of the Beijing Ducks and Zhao Weilun of OTE’s Cold Hearts supply hope for the longer term.
Domestically, the CBA celebrated its thirtieth anniversary with reforms geared toward enhancing competitiveness. The inaugural CBA Club Cup launched a mid-season event, and a extra liberal overseas participant coverage was adopted, permitting as much as 4 overseas participant registrations per crew and a most of seven appearances throughout video games.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: CONTINUITY AND CHALLENGES
The Chinese girls’s basketball crew entered the Paris Olympics with excessive expectations after clinching the FIBA Asia Cup and Asian Games titles in 2023. However, the crew fell brief within the group stage, dropping to Spain and Serbia.
Head coach Zheng Wei recognized cohesion as a essential space for enchancment. “We need to address the disjointed play that cost us crucial games in Paris,” she stated. The crew’s reliance on veteran gamers like Wu Tongtong, Sun Mengran, and Jin Weina poses one other problem as they close to the twilight of their careers. Additionally, key contributors Huang Sijing and Yang Liwei have proven indicators of decline in home league play.
Promising kids, together with ahead Luo Xinyu and guard Yang Shuyu, are anticipated to play pivotal roles en path to Los Angeles 2028. Zheng burdened the significance of nurturing these abilities to make sure a seamless transition and sustained competitiveness on the worldwide stage.
Domestically, the WCBA launched vital reforms for the 2024-2025 season. The league expanded from 19 to 21 groups and adopted a brand new competitors format, dividing groups into two teams for regular-season play. The playoffs now function a five-stage system, together with best-of-five sequence within the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. Player insurance policies had been additionally up to date, permitting every crew to register as much as three worldwide gamers with particular restrictions on their enjoying time.
CBA Chairman Guo underscored the league’s mission to raise girls’s basketball. “The WCBA plays a crucial role in popularizing the sport and improving its competitive level,” he stated. “Our goal is to create a platform that inspires young girls to pursue basketball and provides opportunities for players to shine on the global stage.”