Former Houston Rockets star Yao Ming “has quit as president of the Chinese Basketball Association, local media reported on Wednesday” (h/t SCMP Sports)
“Yao, who was elected to a second term as president in December 2022, previously resigned as CBA chairman in May last year, and rumours had been circulating for some time that he would cut ties with the governing body entirely sooner rather than later.”
Ming has yet to comment, so this report hasn’t officially been confirmed. However, if true, there is merit to the decision and the fans’ reaction.
Rockets Legend Yao Ming Steps Down As President
Ming’s decision appears to be predicated upon external pressure. The reports lamenting China’s failures on the international stage certainly sticks out.
China performs quite well in international tournaments as a whole (they have 728 medals in the Olympics all-time). Still, their men’s national basketball team has failed to qualify for the last two Olympic Games. In 2016, they went 0-5, losing to the United States in embarrassing fashion along the way.
Ming was named chairman in 2017, many thinking the Hall of Famer would take the program to the next level. However, since taking over, China has only qualified for the 2019 FIBA World Cup— an automatic qualification because they were the host country — and the 202: FIBA World Cup.
They didn’t medal in either of them.
All of China’s shortcomings can’t be put on the giant’s shoulders. It’s become obvious that, on the global stage, there are several countries with a lot of talent. With more and better competition, it’s that much harder for every team to win. Nonetheless, China isn’t a team that’s new to basketball, with a national team established in 1974.
The Last Word On Yao Ming
Though Ming had an unsuccessful run as the president of the Chinese Basketball Association, it doesn’t take away from his NBA career. An eight-time All-Star who helped the Rockets reach the playoffs four times, he’s the most successful Asian player in NBA history. More than that, he’s been an inspiration for a country with 1.4 billion people.
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