Explosive! Why must every basketball star visiting China meet Yao Ming? Let's discuss the main reason!

This summer, more than ten NBA stars began their China tours, igniting a new basketball craze.

From Harden, LaVine, Curry to Edwards, Butler, and the soon-to-arrive James... NBA stars are visiting China frequently, with activities including business events, fan engagements, grassroots games, and cultural immersion.

This phenomenon is inseparable from the support of the Chinese market, particularly the emergence of homegrown brands. This is a crucial strategy for sports brands to achieve high conversion marketing, where the popularity of players combined with fan economy quickly drives consumer spending.

After all, someone like Wembanyamawho truly comes to understand Chinese culture, travels here, even shaves his head, wears monk robes, pauses all engagements, dismisses his entourage, and undertakes a 10-day secluded retreat, is unique.

The vast majority of stars come primarily for commercial activities.

With Yang Hansheng being drafted in the first round, China's men's basketball team winning the Asian Cup silver, the return of NBA China Games, and the deepening integration of NBA with grassroots basketball in China, there is now a stronger foundation for international stars visiting China.

On a broader scale, sports exchanges have become a vital channel for stabilizing cultural relations between China and the US.

This year's China tours by stars differ from previous years in that Yao Ming has become the most iconic figure throughout these events.

Almost every visiting player, whether Curry, Leonard, or Edwards, makes a special trip to meet Yao, making him a “must-visit” stop on the NBA stars’ China itinerary.

The most popular fan comment is:“NBA stars come and go in China, but Yao Ming remains constant.”

This summer, just hosting dinners alone, Yao Ming...

Behind every photo taken with him lies not only respect but also a display of status.

As the undisputed GOAT Asian NBA player, Yao Ming, though retired, holds immense prestige in the basketball world.

After all, he is a Hall of Famer and currently the only Asian NBA All-Star player.

As Artest said: “Yao paved the way alone for those who followed, making American players realize the importance of the Chinese market.”

This historical status makes both new and veteran stars view meeting him as an “achievement unlocked” during their China visits.

Fans’ jokes are the liveliest tribute to this giant’s ongoing dedication to Chinese basketball.

Yao Ming has stepped down as chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association, which is why he can make time; his meetings do not represent official government engagements.

However, he remains deeply involved in Chinese basketball affairs, acting as the “face of Chinese basketball” and playing a central role throughout the summer’s activities.

One of his major current roles is chairman of the Yao Foundation.

Thus, the Yao Foundation and Curry’s brand jointly launched the ‘Basketball Without Borders’ charity program, including hardware support like building safe courts in rural schools and donating professional basketball gear; and event empowerment: creating China’s first all-girls elementary school basketball league (Pop Up League).

Consequently, the 13th Yao Foundation Charity Game gathered NBA stars such as Jaylen Brown and Kuzma.

In this process, Yao Ming and NBA stars definitely “need each other.”

Perhaps stars will be invited to future charity games.

Objectively speaking, Yao Ming also benefits from such interactive exchanges.

One more thing: among all the star photos, Edwards is the most impressive.

Edwards posted a photo with Yao, captioning: “I want to dunk on Yao Ming to pay tribute to one of the greatest big men in history.”

The Timberwolves’ official Twitter commented: Only he dares to say that...

What I want to express today is that on the stage of NBA stars’ China tours, Yao Ming, though no longer wearing a jersey, continues to influence the future of Chinese basketball in another way.

He is not only a legend of the past but also a bridge in the present and a guide for the future.

As Stern once said:

“Yao Ming turned the NBA in China from something ‘heard about’ to something ‘must-watch.’”

“The comment that ‘Yang Hansheng helped the Trail Blazers earn an extra 500 million’is pure media hype with no factual basis.

Hisjoining did create short-term buzz and added premium value for the Trail Blazers, buthe hasn’t even played a single official game yet.

Praise should be on basketball merits; commercially, Yang is not yet at a level to boost a team’s valuation.

If that were true, every NBA team would sign a Chinese player, do you believe that?

Yao Ming has brought the NBA more than 5 billion in revenue, and that is a fact that can be stated.

Respect was earned through his games; value was created on the court, not just talked about.