Yao Ming Hails NBA as 'First Class' in China Despite Past Controversies

Yao Ming, who boosted NBA's popularity in China, affirms strong league presence despite geopolitical issues including cancellation of Rockets' broadcasts in 2019 and backlash over reference of Taiwan as a country, emphasizing NBA teams and players enjoy warm welcome.

• Yao Ming, the president of the Chinese Basketball Association, hails the NBA as 'first class' in China despite previous controversies, stating that NBA teams and players are still very welcomed in the country.
• Relations between the NBA and China were strained when Chinese broadcasters stopped airing Houston Rockets games in 2019 after their general manager, Daryl Morey, supported anti-government protests in Hong Kong. Also, earlier this year, the reference to Taiwan as a country by former NBA player Dwight Howard in a promotional video resulted in backlash.
• Despite these setbacks, Yao highlights the enduring popularity of the NBA in China, emphasizing the active engagement of NBA players with the country, such as Minnesota Timberwolves' Kyle Anderson competing with China at the FIBA World Cup and Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler embarking on a tour of the country during the summer.
• During his recent visit to New York, Yao met with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and applauded his management of the league, which sees international participation at an all-time high.
• Yao's comments come amid improving relations between China and other international sports bodies, such as the Women's Tennis Association, which concluded its China Open after previous tensions related to the disappearance of player Peng Shuai. Yao, a longtime friend of Peng, confirmed that she was doing well.

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