Yao Ming has stepped down as president of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), concluding a seven-year tenure that began in February 2017. Vice president Guo Zhenming will succeed him in the position, the association announced on Thursday.
“Whether in the past, present, or future, basketball has always been a passion of mine,” Yao said upon his departure. “I hope everyone will continue to support Chinese basketball with me in the future.”
During Yao’s leadership, the women’s national basketball team achieved significant success. They secured gold medals at two consecutive Asian Games—in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2018, and in Hangzhou, in east China’s Zhejiang Province, in 2023. Additionally, the team finished as runners-up at the FIBA Women’s World Cup in Sydney, Australia, in 2022, matching their best-ever result in the tournament.
In contrast, the men’s national team faced challenges, failing to qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021 and Paris in 2024. They also fell short of reaching the top 16 at the FIBA World Cups held in 2019 on home soil and in 2023 across the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia.
Yao Ming’s impact on basketball extends beyond his administrative role. As a player, he led the Shanghai Sharks to a CBA championship victory in 2002 before being drafted first overall by the NBA’s Houston Rockets the same year. Over his illustrious career, he became an eight-time NBA All-Star and was named to the All-NBA Team five times before retiring in July 2011. His number 11 jersey was retired by the Rockets in February 2017, and he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in September 2016.
Guo Zhenming, who has been with the CBA since 2022, praised Yao’s contributions. “On one hand, Yao’s unique influence and ability to integrate resources within the basketball community are unparalleled,” Guo said. “On the other hand, when we compare our situation to the national initiatives aimed at revitalizing the goal of establishing China as a sports powerhouse by 2035, we still have a considerable way to go.”
The leadership change marks a new chapter for Chinese basketball as it strives to enhance its competitiveness on the global stage. Fans and stakeholders alike will be watching closely to see how the CBA evolves under Guo’s direction.
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Yao Ming steps down as president of the Chinese Basketball Association
cgtn.com
