Yao Ming: Passion for Basketball Unchanged, Regrets Not Meeting Expected Results

After announcing that he will no longer serve as the chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), Yao Ming gave an interview to Xinhua News Agency.

The specific content is as follows:

The CBA Executive Committee held a meeting on the 31st to complete the mid-term adjustment of its leadership, with Guo Zhenming taking over from Yao Ming as the chairman of the CBA. Yao Ming stated that as of today, he will no longer hold the position of chairman, a decision made after careful consideration. Guo Zhenming said that he will work together with everyone to ensure the smooth operation of the association.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency, Yao Ming said that his experience as chairman of the CBA was very valuable, and he has gained a lot. However, he expressed regret that the national team’s performance did not meet expectations. The main reason for leaving the CBA at this time is based on considerations for the future of Chinese basketball. According to the bylaws, Yao Ming’s second term still had about two years left, but he hopes to leave a complete Olympic cycle for the new leadership to better carry out their work.

Yao Ming said that his passion for basketball has never changed. The development of Chinese basketball involves various aspects, such as international exchanges, public welfare, youth training, industry research, and culture. There are many opportunities for him to continue participating in basketball in other ways in the future.

Upon leaving, Yao Ming thanked the leaders of the General Administration of Sport of China, colleagues at the CBA, peers in the basketball community, and all those who have supported his work during his tenure.

Guo Zhenming, who will take over as chairman of the CBA, is the joint party secretary and vice chairman of the CBA and the Basketball Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China. He joined the CBA in early 2022 and worked alongside Yao Ming.

Guo Zhenming said that what impressed him most about Yao Ming is his sense of responsibility. The entity reform of the CBA in early 2017 was a significant reform initiative promoted by the General Administration of Sport of China. In the absence of mature precedents, Yao Ming used his various abilities, resources, and insights to lead everyone in establishing operational mechanisms for the association, fully demonstrating his commitment. Over the nearly eight years since the entity reform, the CBA has done a lot of pioneering work in areas such as popularizing basketball, building basketball culture and honor systems, integrating sports and education, implementing salary caps in the CBA league, insurance, and standardizing youth competitions. Some foundational work may not show immediate results, but some have already begun to bear fruit. At the 2018 Asian Games, the 3×3 basketball event at the Tokyo Olympics, and the 2022 Women’s Basketball World Cup, national teams achieved some encouraging results. Additionally, Guo Zhenming felt Yao Ming’s charisma from the first day they met, such as his willingness to forego personal brand endorsements to promote the development of Chinese basketball.

Guo Zhenming admitted that taking over the CBA from Yao Ming comes with significant pressure. “On one hand, Chairman Yao’s personal influence and ability to integrate resources in the entire basketball world are quite unique. On the other hand, compared to the overall deployment and requirements for revitalizing the three major ball sports and the tasks facing the three major ball sports by 2035, we still have a gap. With 76 million core basketball fans, we have a solid foundation, and the excellent results achieved by Chinese basketball in the past also create high expectations for us, which brings considerable pressure and challenges.”

Regarding future work, Guo Zhenming expressed confidence in the CBA leadership. “Our country has a unique systemic advantage, and the strategic goal of revitalizing the three major ball sports will bring policy incentives and resource integration benefits. The broad mass base and talent base will support our next steps. On one hand, we need to let children who love basketball enjoy the fun of the game; on the other hand, we need to help talented and gifted children grow and shine, so they can bring glory to the country in the future.”

Guo Zhenming said, “My personal capabilities are limited, but the CBA leadership, all staff members, and member units of the Chinese Basketball Association must unite and work together to gather the strength and wisdom of those who love and support Chinese basketball. We will build on the previous work of Yao Ming, pool our ideas, and create a vibrant environment to continue deepening basketball reforms and further leverage our institutional advantages. I believe that the challenges we face will be a test of our ability to do better. We have the confidence, and we will proceed step by step.” (End)