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Chinese basketball icon and NBA legend Yao Ming stated on Thursday that there is "no way" sports can completely "hide" from politics, though he emphasized the importance of trying to avoid it.
Speaking in Beijing during a panel on sports within the context of US-China relations, Yao was asked about the political implications of a 2019 incident involving former Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, who tweeted his support for the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests.
Yao, who played for the Rockets during his NBA career, responded, "there's no way we can hide" from politics.
He added, however, that those working in sports should understand the distinction between what belongs "in" the game and what is "out," and do their best to avoid bringing politics into it.
China Yet to host an NBA game
China has a massive basketball fanbase, but it has not hosted an NBA game in five years, following the controversy sparked by Morey's tweet, which led to the NBA being blacklisted from Chinese television until 2022.
Yao referred to the 2019 incident as an "instant accident," stating that Morey had "stepped into a minefield that he was not really familiar with. So the minefield is there, but... we should help each other to cross it."
When asked by AFP if he believed the NBA would return to China soon, Yao, who stepped down as head of the Chinese Basketball Association last month after a seven-year tenure, admitted, "I'm not in control" and could not provide an answer.
Nevertheless, he assured that "basketball is very popular in China, with all ages, whether played on court, or just watched from a TV. The fans love to see all kinds of basketball games."
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has previously expressed his optimism about the league's return to China, stating in October that he expects NBA games to resume there in the near future.
Yao Ming Career Highlights
NBA Achievements: Yao was an eight-time NBA All-Star and was named to the All-NBA Team five times. He had a significant impact on the game, averaging 19.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game over his career12.
International Success: Yao led the Chinese national team to multiple victories in the FIBA Asia Cup, winning MVP honors three times (2001, 2003, and 2005) and was part of the All-Tournament Team at the FIBA World Cup in 20021.
Hall of Fame: In April 2016, Yao was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, becoming the first Chinese player to receive this honor1.
