CBA Shuffle: China's Professional Basketball League

The Xinjiang (far left) has some serious
traveling to away games

This week marked the beginning of the CBA finals between the Beijing Ducks and the Liaoning Flying Leopards.  Who knew leopards could fly, right?  The Chinese Basketball Association has gained a lot of traction on the relatively small Chinese sports circuit, particularly in Beijing.  The Chinese love a winner and the success for the capital's team over the past two seasons, they were champions last season, has done a great deal for a domestic league which is usually overshadowed by the much flasher NBA in America.  I've compiled just a few of the many reasons for groundswell of interest in the CBA.  Enjoy!

Suck it Liaoning.  Go Ducks

1.  NBA Star Power Doesn't Necessarily Equal Dominance - When it comes to sports, the Chinese love winners.  I've said it before and I'll say it again.  If you need evidence just look to the massive amount of Miami Heat gear thrown away in this country after Lebron left for Cleveland (Lebron 回来Cleveland).  Without a dominant team with a arrogant, charismatic player leading the league this season, the CBA has experienced heightened visibility this year.  With a more competitive field of teams this year relative to each other than the NBA, the race to the CBA finals remained a barnburner all season long.  It's refreshing to see a homegrown Chinese institution expand its base without the help of government protectionism.  

Marbury with a Chinese translation of his name

2.  Ex-NBA Players Adding an International Feel - Ex-NBA players keep creeping their way on to the rosters of CBA teams.  In a that guy is still around moment, Stephon Marbury is the current star player for the Ducks.  He was named one of Beijing's 10 Model Citizens this year, becoming the first foreigner to win (or be singled out for) the award.  He's even becoming something of a propaganda tool, staring in a musical about his own life.  That's right, sings and dances and everything.  Checkout the link below.  Foreigner players help bolster a domestic talent pool that honestly isn't very strong and give name recognition for foreigners with a passing interest in the league, such as myself.

http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/5-amazing-moments-from-stephon-marburys-chinese-musical-20141002

3.  National "Face" and Soccer Prowess - Ask most 18-49 males their favorite soccer team and 9 times out of 10 they will tell you some super successful European team.  Often the question is quickly followed by the statement that Chinese soccer teams aren't good enough.  China (people and government) simply hate the fact Chinese soccer hasn't developed into a global powerhouse.  The President of China recently announced a massive initiative aimed at improving the soccer fortune of the nation.  This attitude of course affects support for the domestic league.  For a number of reasons basketball is less affected by the lust for "face" on the national stage.  The CBA might not have the talent of the NBA or European soccer, but your average Zhou seems to care less about this fact in relation to basketball than soccer, and this has helped the league greatly over the period I have lived here.  

Some CBA Cheerleaders

Reason for My Person CBA Interest

The Pacers Terrible Season - The NBA has predictability and competitive parity problems.  There I said it.  It's basically been a foregone conclusion who'd win the conference championships during the last few years, and this has made me tune out as soon as the Pacers are out of the running.  Granted the league has been a lot more interesting this season than in years past, some teams still lord over the competition.  I stopped paying attention when I realized the Pacers season was over 5 minutes after it started.  The CBA gives me an opportunity to get my professional basketball fix without having to bandwagon onto some NBA during the playoffs, or support the NCAA.