NBA officials plan China slam dunk
From Jaime FlorCruz, CNN Beijing Bureau Chief
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Mengke Bateer, botton right, is helping other Chinese players hone their skills.
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BEIJING, China (CNN) -- Basketball in China is getting a huge lift from Mengke Bateer, China's starting center for the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games, who now plays for NBA team Toronto Raptors.
Bateer has been conducting clinics in Beijing along with NBA legend George Gervin, giving China's young players the opportunity to polish fundamentals and learn new moves from old pros.
While some basketball wannabes aspire to reach lofty goals, others simply wish to improve their game.
"I just want to be able to take part in China's college basketball league," 12-year-old Li Zheng told CNN.
China's growing ranks of basketball fans are finding inspiration from their NBA idols, especially Chinese players like Yao Ming, now a starter for the Houston Rockets and one of the NBA's biggest stars.
Games featuring Yao -- China's favorite sports icon -- are regularly shown on local television, reaching nearly 300 million households.
Yao's towering success has attracted lucrative advertising deals and inspired national pride.
"That they can make it into NBA proves that China's basketball has matured," 17-year-old Che Yi said. "I hope more Chinese players can join the NBA in future."
Piggybacked on these rising stars are the NBA's big plans for China.
The NBA's vice president and managing director for Asia, Michael Denzel, said they are now laying the groundwork to boost the game's profile and following.
NBA star Yao Ming has become a national icon in China.
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"We have the Internet Web site we launched early this year. We have TV, fourteen broadcasters in China covering cable and satellite," he said.
Through coaching clinics and other promotional events, the NBA is attracting sports fans as it penetrates the world's biggest market.
It is planning to sell advertising, footwear and other merchandise.
And some fans are already lining up to spend.
"I asked NBA's Asia director when they will open an NBA store in China. He said next year," said 17-year-old Liu Dun.
"I'm so happy that I will soon be able to buy NBA stuff I like."
Money in Chinese basketball is potentially big if the NBA can continue to draw Chinese audiences with the help of stars like Yao Ming.
Next year, the league will bring season-opening games to Beijing and Shanghai, hoping to make another slam dunk in China.
