Yao Ming Calls for Stronger Competition in Asian Basketball

SINGAPORE – With Asia absent from the knockout rounds of the 2023 World Cup and the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic men’s tournaments, the region struggles to gain a foothold in world basketball. The dominance of the United States and European teams such as France and Serbia highlights this issue.

Currently, only four players from Asia are in the 2024-25 National Basketball Association (NBA) opening night rosters: Chinese shooting guard Cui Yongxi (Brooklyn Nets), Japanese point guard Yuki Kawamura (Memphis Grizzlies), Japanese power forward Rui Hachimura (Los Angeles Lakers), and Israeli small forward Deni Avdija (Portland Trail Blazers). In contrast, Africa has 17 players on NBA rosters.

Yao Ming, the former Houston Rockets star and widely recognized as the best Asian player in NBA history, acknowledges the gap. Speaking at the NBA Rising Stars Invitational opening ceremony at Kallang Tennis Hub on June 25, he remarked, “The only way to improve is through better competition.” He emphasized that better competition helps players identify their weaknesses and strengths.

Yao also expressed a need for greater interaction between Asia and the rest of the world. “With comparison, we can then see what we can and cannot do and figure out what we hope to achieve in the future,” he added.

At 2.29m, Yao towered over reporters and remained a significant figure in basketball, having served as president of the China Basketball Association from 2017 to 2024. He was encouraged by Japan’s qualification for Paris 2024, the emergence of South Korean players, and the selection of young Chinese talent in NBA teams, notably 19-year-old centre Yang Hansen, who is anticipated to be picked in the 2025 NBA Draft.

“He is very talented and a very nice kid. I spoke to him about four weeks ago and wished him good luck,” Yao said. “With all the effort, no matter what happens, the draft is just one step in his long career, so keep going.”

Yao praised South Korea for its three-point shooting and noted Japan’s competitiveness, believing that participation in international competitions like the World Cup and Olympics raises basketball standards in the region. “I think that will stimulate the feeling we have right now to try to catch up,” he stated.

During the event, Yao expressed admiration for NBA stars like LeBron James and Kevin Durant, calling Durant a “game changer” for his former team. “One thing for sure is the season ticket prices will go up,” he joked, eliciting laughter.

Yao remains dedicated to supporting basketball’s next generation. He noted that tournaments such as the NBA Rising Stars Invitational can elevate regional standards, recalling his experiences from 30 years ago. “There’s only one way to find out who are the better players, which is through games,” he said. “Now, it’s these kids’ time and I hope they enjoy it just like I did 30 years ago.”