https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/328482/feed Hong Kong and international basketball news, match reports and fixtures. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Mike Chan,Stephy Zhang Mike Chan,Stephy Zhang Dallas Mavericks fans will have to wait just a little bit longer to see Kyrie Irving in their team’s colours for the first time in almost two years, after he sat out Friday’s 135-117 pre-season loss to the Houston Rockets in Macau. Even without the flashy point guard running things, however, the two Texas clubs still put on a show for the thousands that packed into The Venetian Arena for the second year of NBA China Games. When the 34-year-old does finally return after an injury break that began... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3370404/no-kyrie-irving-yet-mavericks-rockets-still-put-show-nba-china-games-fans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3370404/no-kyrie-irving-yet-mavericks-rockets-still-put-show-nba-china-games-fans?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Oct 2026 15:13:57 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Basketball fans draped in the red of Houston and blue of Dallas flooded into The Venetian Macau on Friday ahead of the first of this year’s NBA China Games. The exhibition between the Rockets and Mavericks forms the centrepiece of a five-day basketball festival that tipped off on Wednesday and will conclude with a second match between the two on Sunday. Crowds gathered hours in advance of the opening tip-off, and lengthy queues snaked past the prominent NBA House entrance archway along the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3370391/nba-china-games-draw-fans-near-and-far-irving-just-one-star-attractions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3370391/nba-china-games-draw-fans-near-and-far-irving-just-one-star-attractions?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:48:02 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Chinese basketball fans wanting to catch a glimpse of Yang Hansen in a Portland Trail Blazers uniform might get their wish next year, with the centre’s side reportedly one of the two teams tipped to play in the 2027 NBA China Games in Macau. The Trail Blazers, who opened their pre-season with a 123-118 win over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, have Chinese centre Yang, all-star point guard Damian Lillard, and former rookie of the year Ja Morant on their roster. A well-placed source told... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3370334/homebodies-portland-tipped-face-well-travelled-pacers-2027-nba-china-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3370334/homebodies-portland-tipped-face-well-travelled-pacers-2027-nba-china-games?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Oct 2026 09:30:06 +0000 Tribune News Service,Reuters Tribune News Service,Reuters No offence to Kyrie Irving’s Dallas Mavericks teammates or, for that matter, the Houston Rockets, but there is no question who will get the loudest cheers on Friday and Sunday in the NBA China Games. Nor is there any doubt which player will attract the most cameras and reporter questions during Thursday’s Mavericks-Rockets Media Day, which is projected to be covered by more than 400 journalists, most of them from China and other Asian countries. China’s love fest with Mavericks star guard... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3370160/nba-star-kyrie-irvings-deeply-held-connection-china-case-paying-it-forward?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3370160/nba-star-kyrie-irvings-deeply-held-connection-china-case-paying-it-forward?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 07:30:08 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan The newly founded basketball league Project B earlier this week announced the first stop of its inaugural global basketball grand prix: in Hangzhou in January next year. While the debut of the global basketball tour has seen a slight delay – from its intended start this November – and the announcement of the Chinese host city came months later than anticipated, Project B is one of many major sporting events to be held in mainland China between now and the end of next year. “China has always had... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3369472/hangzhou-launch-project-b-league-january-just-part-busy-chinese-sports-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3369472/hangzhou-launch-project-b-league-january-just-part-busy-chinese-sports-year?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:22 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Zhang Ziyu played a starring role to drag China to women’s basketball bronze at the Asian Games on Saturday, with her coach predicting the teenager standing 2.2 metres (7-foot-3) will one day be “invincible”. The 19-year-old is already taller than NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal and she made full use of her advantage as China beat Chinese Taipei 77-64 in the third-place match in Nagoya. Zhang has made a name for herself in recent weeks, impressing American superstar Caitlin Clark at the Women’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3368907/chinas-invincible-zhang-ziyu-helps-womens-basketball-team-claim-bronze-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3368907/chinas-invincible-zhang-ziyu-helps-womens-basketball-team-claim-bronze-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Sep 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Hong Kong’s decades-old tennis facilities at Victoria Park will be redeveloped, the city’s leader said on Wednesday, a move that could open the way to holding bigger tournaments in the future. Speaking during his annual Policy Address, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the plan was “to strengthen the promotion of ‘sports and mega-events’.” At the moment, Hong Kong holds the rights to stage a WTA and an ATP tournament, both at the 250 level. The first of those is the Prudential Hong Kong Open... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/hong-kong/article/3367724/hong-kong-tennis-bosses-hail-victoria-park-revamp-plans-eye-wta-atp-500-tournaments?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/hong-kong/article/3367724/hong-kong-tennis-bosses-hail-victoria-park-revamp-plans-eye-wta-atp-500-tournaments?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Sep 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan NBA superstar Stephen Curry made a quick trip to Hong Kong on Monday, and visited a local school where he told pupils that working hard and accepting that sometimes failure happens had helped make him a four-time champion. Appearing in the city for the first time in 10 years, Curry arrived at Shun Tak Fraternal Association Leung Kau Kui College in Tuen Mun to thunderous cheers from pupils, teachers and a crowd of more than 1,000 onlookers. The two-time MVP briefly watched a school game, before... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3367422/nba-star-curry-visits-hong-kong-school-gives-tips-dealing-self-doubt-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3367422/nba-star-curry-visits-hong-kong-school-gives-tips-dealing-self-doubt-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Sep 2026 07:30:06 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang China’s 75-72 victory over Puerto Rico in Berlin on Wednesday secured a fourth consecutive Fiba Women’s World Cup quarter-final berth, sparking a wave of relief on domestic social media alongside growing fan anxiety over squad depth and fatigue ahead of a daunting clash against France. WNBA star Han Xu produced a dominant 21-point, 11-rebound double-double – her third in a row – to lead China through the qualifying play-in. Yang Shuyu scored 15 points, while 2.21-metre (7-foot-3) centre Zhang... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3367025/womens-basketball-world-cup-china-reach-last-8-fans-worry-over-squad-depth-fatigue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3367025/womens-basketball-world-cup-china-reach-last-8-fans-worry-over-squad-depth-fatigue?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Sep 2026 07:30:00 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Chinese WNBA player Han Xu scored a second consecutive double-double as China beat Italy 71-51 to secure second place in their group at the Fiba Women’s Basketball World Cup. China’s 7ft 3in (2.33m) teenage sensation Zhang Ziyu scored eight points with perfect shooting from the field as her team established an 18-point lead at one point, while New York Liberty centre Han led the team with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Han had powered China to the comeback win against the Czech Republic the previous... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3366781/womens-basketball-world-cup-han-xu-stars-again-china-seal-second-spot-group?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3366781/womens-basketball-world-cup-han-xu-stars-again-china-seal-second-spot-group?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Sep 2026 13:00:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Chinese teenage basketball player Zhang Ziyu stands 2.23 metres (7 feet 4 inches) and towers over opponents at the Women’s World Cup – but off the court she’s “just a little girl”. That was the assessment of the giant 19-year-old by teammate Han Xu after China’s 74-70 overtime win over the Czech Republic on Sunday in Germany. The teenage centre scored three points in just over 10 minutes on court against a physical Czech side, having been more of a threat against reigning champions the United... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3366628/zhang-ziyu-chinas-towering-teenage-basketball-world-cup-sensation-just-little-girl?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3366628/zhang-ziyu-chinas-towering-teenage-basketball-world-cup-sensation-just-little-girl?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Sep 2026 14:00:08 +0000 Reuters,Associated Press Reuters,Associated Press China used their considerable height to battle past ⁠the Czech Republic ⁠74-70 in an overtime thriller ⁠at the Fiba Women’s World Cup on Sunday, with the New York Liberty’s nearly 2.13-metre-tall (7 foot) centre Han Xu’s double-double making the difference. In a later match, the United States survived their toughest test at the tournament in two decades with a 55-52 win over Italy, with Jackie Young scoring 10 points. Han powered China to the comeback win with 22 points ‌and 14 rebounds to get... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3366570/china-get-fiba-womens-basketball-world-cup-campaign-back-track-italy-give-us-scare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3366570/china-get-fiba-womens-basketball-world-cup-campaign-back-track-italy-give-us-scare?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Sep 2026 22:57:21 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang China’s teenage centre Zhang Ziyu sparked a social media frenzy after making her Fiba Women’s Basketball World Cup debut against the United States in Berlin on Friday. Viral images and clips of the 2.2-metre (7-foot-3) 19-year-old towering over WNBA superstars dominated online commentary, drawing praise from US stars while exposing deep tactical divisions among Chinese fans. In her 18 minutes off the bench, Zhang presented an unprecedented physical presence, recording a team-high 13 points, six... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3366474/chinas-zhang-ziyu-towering-presence-debut-us-win-world-cup-basketball-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3366474/chinas-zhang-ziyu-towering-presence-debut-us-win-world-cup-basketball-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Sep 2026 08:31:39 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Hong Kong Bulls will earn the right to compete in the top tier of the Chinese basketball league if they finish in the top two of the National Basketball League this season and beat one of the two lowly Chinese Basketball Association league teams in a two-leg play-off. However, a play-off series win would not guarantee straight passage to the top tier for any teams, but only the right to be screened – using several guidelines – by Chinese basketball officials. Teams will then face an anxious wait... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3366429/play-win-hong-kong-bulls-no-guarantee-chinese-basketball-association-league-spot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3366429/play-win-hong-kong-bulls-no-guarantee-chinese-basketball-association-league-spot?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Sep 2026 14:00:11 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Opponents will be looking up to China during the Fiba Women’s World Cup, starting with the United States. The Americans and everyone else will have to navigate around and over some of the tallest women on the planet: China’s 19-year-old Zhang Ziyu stands 7-foot-3 (2.2 metres). The US team are already familiar with 6-foot-10 Han Xu from her Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) games with the New York Liberty. If not for a passport mishap, Zhang and Han would be joined by another centre... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3366334/chinese-basketball-players-aiming-take-team-new-heights-fiba-womens-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3366334/chinese-basketball-players-aiming-take-team-new-heights-fiba-womens-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Sep 2026 05:59:30 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Yang Hansen scored a dramatic late winner to give China an 89-87 victory over Lebanon in their Fiba Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers clash on Monday, in a game almost overshadowed by a fan throwing a ball that hit the home star. The 21-year-old Yang sealed the win at the Xishi Basketball Centre in Zhuji, Zhejiang province, with a buzzer-beating bank shot, improving China’s record to 5-3 in the second stage of qualifying and keeping them third in their group. China had squandered a six-point... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3366095/teen-spectator-vip-seat-hauled-out-arena-after-hurling-ball-china-players?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3366095/teen-spectator-vip-seat-hauled-out-arena-after-hurling-ball-china-players?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Sep 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan The Filipino professional basketball league founded by Manny Pacquiao is joining the East Asia Super League as its newest partner, the regional league announced on Wednesday. Launched in 2017 by boxing great Pacquiao, 47, the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League’s (MPBL) reigning champions, Abra Weavers, will compete in the 2026-27 EASL season, which tips off in the first week of October. A young team in the Philippines league, the Weavers joined the MPBL only in 2024, but they quickly... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3364471/manny-pacquiao-founded-league-join-east-asia-super-league-new-partner-next-season?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3364471/manny-pacquiao-founded-league-join-east-asia-super-league-new-partner-next-season?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Aug 2026 02:00:15 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport The Chinese men’s basketball team were left with more questions than answers after wrapping up their warm-up matches for the Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers with back-to-back losses. An 84-77 loss to New Zealand in Foshan on Monday was preceded by some mixed results. A hard-fought 83-78 win over Uruguay in Shunde last Thursday was marred by numerous favourable calls for the home team, before China were thrashed by the South Americans in a 19-point loss just two days later. The Chinese team now... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3364443/chinas-basketball-men-warm-world-cup-qualifiers-back-back-losses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/china/article/3364443/chinas-basketball-men-warm-world-cup-qualifiers-back-back-losses?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:38:15 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Basketball star Wang Siyu was called out for “deterring 99 per cent of men” after her strict criteria for finding a love interest resurfaced on social media. The Chinese women’s basketball player stated that any potential partner must be 1.9m (6 feet, 2 inches) tall, in good shape with visible abdominal muscles and have double eyelids, but Wang was also adamant that shared values were far more important than how a person looks. The 30-year-old two-time Asian Games gold medallist added that she... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3363451/chinese-basketball-star-wang-siyus-strict-dating-criteria-truly-eye-opening?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3363451/chinese-basketball-star-wang-siyus-strict-dating-criteria-truly-eye-opening?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Aug 2026 13:00:05 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Typhoon Dolphin may have brought a premature end to this week’s Asian University Basketball League tournament in Hangzhou, but players, coaches and officials are already looking forward to an expanded event next year. While the approaching storm forced organisers to postpone Sunday’s third place play-off between Tsinghua University and Waseda University, and the final between defending champions National Chengchi University and surprise package Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the mood remained... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3363439/typhoon-dolphin-brings-early-end-aubl-bright-future-ahead-ncaa-wannabe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3363439/typhoon-dolphin-brings-early-end-aubl-bright-future-ahead-ncaa-wannabe?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Aug 2026 08:38:52 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan If years working for the NBA in the United States and as Yao Ming’s right-hand man in China have taught Jay Li Jintian anything, it is that basketball in Asia is ripe for growth and fans, players, coaches and officials are desperate to make it happen. Growth has been a significant part of Li’s own journey: from interning at the NBA league office in Secaucus, New Jersey, working on the international business development side of the organisation, to helping Yao with special projects and managing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3363342/aubl-ceo-aims-make-it-most-recognisable-asian-basketball-property-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3363342/aubl-ceo-aims-make-it-most-recognisable-asian-basketball-property-world?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Aug 2026 04:00:22 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Chinese men’s basketball has not had the best of times over the past few years, while the lack of a true superstar capable of dominating on the global stage in the mould of NBA Hall of Famer Yao Ming has also seen the team fall behind regionally and internationally. That predicament was probably best reflected in two losses to South Korea in four days last year, and the home defeat to Japan in the World Cup Asian qualifiers was the first in an official Fiba-level match in 88 years. A failure to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3363298/future-chinese-basketball-seen-bright-despite-failure-find-another-yao-ming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3363298/future-chinese-basketball-seen-bright-despite-failure-find-another-yao-ming?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Aug 2026 00:00:11 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Defending champions National Chengchi University battled into the final four of the Asian University Basketball League in Hangzhou on Thursday, but they were pushed all the way by their Yonsei University rivals. The Taiwan students eked out a 72-67 victory over their South Korean rivals, in a game that was in the balance until the final minute. Chengchi’s five-point lead at half-time vanished into a four-point deficit, as their opponents started the third quarter with a 17-8 run. The title... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3363198/defending-aubl-champions-national-chengchi-university-hold-make-final-four?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3363198/defending-aubl-champions-national-chengchi-university-hold-make-final-four?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Aug 2026 13:00:06 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan The head coach of reigning champions National Chengchi University (NCCU) said the Asian University Basketball League (AUBL) remained the strongest college tournament they had ever taken part in after securing a quarter-final berth on Tuesday. Playing against tournament debutants National University of Mongolia, NCCU from Taiwan dominated almost from the start before cruising to an 83-51 win at Binjiang Gymnasium. They have now won both their group matches, after also beating mainland side... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3362935/asian-university-basketball-league-toughest-college-event-coach-title-holders-nccu-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3362935/asian-university-basketball-league-toughest-college-event-coach-title-holders-nccu-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Aug 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan A team of Hong Kong students crashed into several human walls in a landslide loss on the opening day of the Asian University Basketball League (AUBL) in Hangzhou on Sunday. The Chinese University of Hong Kong were humbled by Peking University in a 101-59 loss, as they failed to deal with the massive difference in their opponents’ height and physique, leaving the players “out of sorts” on the court, according to their head coach. “The entire opposite team was taller and stronger than us; we never... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3362714/hong-kong-students-humbled-opening-day-asian-university-basketball-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3362714/hong-kong-students-humbled-opening-day-asian-university-basketball-league?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Aug 2026 13:30:07 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse LeBron James will play for the Philadelphia 76ers next season, with the 41-year-old NBA superstar hoping to transform another franchise into a championship team. The NBA all-time scoring leader and a four-time NBA MVP, James has won four titles in a 23-year career, most recently with the Los Angeles Lakers. But “King James” announced on June 30 that he would depart the Lakers as a free agent, sparking a frenzy of speculation as to his next team. “I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3361821/lebron-james-hoping-bring-some-title-magic-philadelphia-76ers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3361821/lebron-james-hoping-bring-some-title-magic-philadelphia-76ers?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Jul 2026 03:26:20 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport The inaugural season of Shaquille O’Neal’s professional dunking league got under way in Atlanta on Wednesday, and one Chinese star has already made a big impression. Chen Dengxing shocked the crowd and O’Neal at the Dunkman season opener with a between-the-legs dunk over six people that covered 6ft 10in (about 2 metres) in distance. What makes the feat of the 45-inch vertical leap even more impressive is Chen is 39 years old and a diminutive by basketball standards 5ft 9in inches tall. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3361438/watch-chinas-chen-dengxing-soar-over-6-people-stun-shaq-dunkman-season-opener?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3361438/watch-chinas-chen-dengxing-soar-over-6-people-stun-shaq-dunkman-season-opener?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Jul 2026 06:33:24 +0000 SCMP SCMP This article was first published on July 21, 2011. Ming dynasty comes to an end by Will Clem in Shanghai Yao Ming, one of China’s first truly international sports stars, yesterday (July 20, 2011) formally announced his long-awaited retirement from competitive basketball, but insisted the move was “a comma, not a full stop”. “Today I need to make a personal decision as a basketball player,” the NBA star and three-time Olympian told a packed press conference in his hometown of Shanghai that was... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3359719/chinese-nba-star-yao-ming-retires-basketball-2011-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3359719/chinese-nba-star-yao-ming-retires-basketball-2011-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Jul 2026 05:30:05 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Portland Trail Blazers centre Yang Hansen missed Monday’s NBA Summer League game against the Orlando Magic due to illness, sparking debate among fans over whether he should return to China for national team duties next month. The team announced his absence on social media early on Monday, and without Yang, the Summer League squad fell short, losing 112-105 to the Magic in overtime in Las Vegas. Mainland media reported that the second-year centre, Portland’s only regular-roster player in the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3360341/yang-hansens-health-sparks-debate-among-fans-over-nba-and-chinese-national-team-commitments?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3360341/yang-hansens-health-sparks-debate-among-fans-over-nba-and-chinese-national-team-commitments?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Jul 2026 06:58:07 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang Hassan Niam Whiteside, a foreign player for newly crowned CBA champion Shanghai Sharks, faces a potential two-year ban after a doping violation, but the team are expected to retain their title. According to information released by the China Anti-Doping Agency (Chinada) on Friday, Whiteside tested positive for the prohibited substances oxandrolone metabolites and clomifene during a 2025-2026 CBA playoff home game against Shandong on May 6. The player waived his right to a B-sample test. Under the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3360227/foreign-player-cba-champions-shanghai-sharks-faces-two-year-ban-after-doping-violation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3360227/foreign-player-cba-champions-shanghai-sharks-faces-two-year-ban-after-doping-violation?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Jul 2026 10:35:05 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport China face a do-or-die basketball match against Chinese Taipei after suffering a humiliating 92-73 loss to Japan in the Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers on home soil on Friday. The 19-point loss for the men’s team at Liaoning Gymnasium was China’s first at home to Japan in any official Fiba-level match in 88 years. It was also the team’s third loss in five group matches, and with China ranked bottom of the four-team table, they now need a win against Chinese Taipei on Monday to qualify for the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3359419/china-face-crunch-do-or-die-clash-against-chinese-taipei-fiba-world-cup-asian-qualifiers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3359419/china-face-crunch-do-or-die-clash-against-chinese-taipei-fiba-world-cup-asian-qualifiers?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Jul 2026 13:00:06 +0000 Reuters Reuters LeBron James thanked the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday for allowing him to wear the storied team’s purple and gold colours after the NBA club wished “one of the greatest athletes in history” all the best in his impending free agency. The four-time NBA champion ‌and league’s all-time leading scorer has spent the last eight seasons of his glittering career with the Lakers, leading them to a title in 2020 during the Covid pandemic after two separate stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers and four... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3358969/lebron-james-bids-farewell-los-angeles-lakers-nba-free-agency-drama-unfolds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3358969/lebron-james-bids-farewell-los-angeles-lakers-nba-free-agency-drama-unfolds?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Jul 2026 02:10:46 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang How would you react if you opened your front door to find the basketball star you have idolised since middle school standing there? For one Kyrie Irving fan in China, the biggest battle was trying to prove that the encounter was not one generated by artificial intelligence. On Tuesday, a Shanghai fan whose social media account takes the name of the Dallas Mavericks star as well as his jersey number posted a video on a Chinese platform that sparked widespread envy in the comments section. In the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3358237/chinese-basketball-fans-disbelief-nba-star-kyrie-irving-pays-one-visit-his-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3358237/chinese-basketball-fans-disbelief-nba-star-kyrie-irving-pays-one-visit-his-home?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:03:50 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown was enjoying his off-season trip to China and jokingly suggested he only needed a US$400 million contract to leave the NBA and play in the Chinese league. The 2024 Finals MVP, who was recently mentioned in trade talks as the Celtics attempted to lure Giannis Antetokounmpo away from the Milwaukee Bucks, joked about playing in China in a video that went viral among basketball fans despite its obvious playful nature. The proposed trade did not materialise as the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3358064/after-missing-out-giannis-trade-brown-offers-services-china-clubs-us400-million?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3358064/after-missing-out-giannis-trade-brown-offers-services-china-clubs-us400-million?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:00:07 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two-time NBA MVP, is joining the Miami Heat from the Milwaukee Bucks, multiple US media outlets including ESPN reported on Monday. Miami won a battle with the Boston Celtics to sign the 31-year-old Greek who won a championship with the Bucks in 2021. ESPN reported that Miami will acquire Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis in a deal that sends Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jnr and Kasparas Jakucionis in the other direction. Milwaukee will also receive three... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3358022/antetokounmpo-joining-miami-blockbuster-nba-trade-after-heat-beat-celtics-signature?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3358022/antetokounmpo-joining-miami-blockbuster-nba-trade-after-heat-beat-celtics-signature?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Jun 2026 05:51:20 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan The promotion and relegation system in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league will return next summer, amid other changes to be made to the sport’s leagues in China. Sources told the South China Morning Post that the CBA and the National Basketball League (NBL) – an independent league in the country – will also be merged, with the latter becoming the official second-tier league affiliated to the CBA. Media reports in China on Thursday revealed that the promotion and relegation system... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3357660/promotion-relegation-system-return-chinas-basketball-leagues-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3357660/promotion-relegation-system-return-chinas-basketball-leagues-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Jun 2026 09:30:05 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The New York Knicks, fuelled by a sensational 45 points from Jalen Brunson, rallied again to beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 and win their first NBA title in 53 years on Saturday. The Knicks won the best-of-seven championship series 4-1, denying Victor Wembanyama and his young Spurs teammates on their home floor to lift the trophy for the first time since 1973. The Knicks, who recovered from 29 points down in game four to produce the biggest comeback in Finals history, erased a double-digit... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3357035/new-york-knicks-beat-san-antonio-spurs-claim-first-nba-title-53-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3357035/new-york-knicks-beat-san-antonio-spurs-claim-first-nba-title-53-years?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Jun 2026 05:01:54 +0000 Reuters Reuters The San Antonio Spurs now own the worst collapse in NBA Finals history, but they refuse to be counted out yet. While the ⁠New York Knicks look to clinch their first ⁠NBA title since 1973, the Spurs aim to stay alive in ⁠the best-of-seven series when they host Game 5 on Saturday night. New York hold a 3-1 lead after overcoming a 29-point deficit in Game 4 and notching a 107-106 victory over the crestfallen Spurs. “The games that we’re losing have all been close games,” San Antonio point guard... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3357006/new-york-knicks-head-san-antonio-brink-first-nba-championship-53-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3357006/new-york-knicks-head-san-antonio-brink-first-nba-championship-53-years?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Jun 2026 11:00:07 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan New Chinese women’s basketball team captain Yang Shuyu has vowed to “fight 200 per cent” to be the best at the Fiba Women’s World Cup in Berlin in September. Speaking on the 6th Woman Basketball Podcast in Australia, Yang, who joined National Basketball League 1 (NBL1) side Melbourne Tigers in April, also talked about the responsibility that came with her new identity when playing for her native country. A runner-up four years ago, Yang said winning the silver medal in Sydney was a big and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3356762/captain-chinese-womens-basketball-team-vows-fight-200-win-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3356762/captain-chinese-womens-basketball-team-vows-fight-200-win-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Jun 2026 13:00:12 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The New York Knicks staged the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history on Wednesday as they erased a 29-point deficit to beat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 and now need one more win to seal the title. OG Anunoby’s tip-in basket with 1.2 seconds left sealed the thrilling victory to give the Knicks a 3-1 stranglehold on the best-of-seven championship series, which shifts back to San Antonio for game five on Saturday. Jalen Brunson scored 36 points and Anunoby added 33 for New York, putting in the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3356709/new-york-knicks-stun-san-antonio-spurs-greatest-ever-nba-finals-comeback?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3356709/new-york-knicks-stun-san-antonio-spurs-greatest-ever-nba-finals-comeback?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Jun 2026 05:27:35 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang A Chinese basketball player who conned the country’s coaches into thinking he was a teenage star was handed a three-year ban on Wednesday for competing under two different names and lying about his age. Zhang Hanbo, who was born in 2006, created a second registration under the name Li Yize, and was even picked to be part of the China national under-18 team set-up. But his fraud unravelled when local media reports pointed out that photographs of Li closely resembled earlier ones of Zhang, and the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3356635/teenager-behind-china-basketball-fraud-handed-3-year-ban-teams-stripped-titles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3356635/teenager-behind-china-basketball-fraud-handed-3-year-ban-teams-stripped-titles?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Jun 2026 09:30:11 +0000 Reuters Reuters Victor Wembanyama scored 32 points and the San Antonio Spurs beat New York 115-111 in the NBA Finals on Monday. The 22-year-old, 7ft 4in (2.24m) Frenchman added eight rebounds, six assists, three blocks and two steals as the Spurs cut the Knicks’ lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven championship series with Game 4 in New York on Wednesday. The defeat snapped the Knicks’ 13-game winning streak, the second-longest postseason streak in NBA history. The 2017 Golden State Warriors won ‌their first 15... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3356447/spurs-edge-knicks-115-111-nba-finals-trump-watches?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3356447/spurs-edge-knicks-115-111-nba-finals-trump-watches?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Jun 2026 04:06:56 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Soaring ticket prices and extra security for US President Donald Trump do not alter the electric energy of fabled Madison Square Garden as it hosts games three and four of the NBA Finals. The New York Knicks, chasing their first basketball championship since 1973, take a 2-0 lead over the San Antonio Spurs into game three of the best-of-seven series on Monday, with game four to follow on Wednesday. Ticket prices have skyrocketed out of the reach of most New Yorkers, but the self-proclaimed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3356414/nba-finals-sky-high-ticket-costs-fail-cool-madison-square-garden-cauldron?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3356414/nba-finals-sky-high-ticket-costs-fail-cool-madison-square-garden-cauldron?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:00:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Jalen Brunson drilled the go-ahead free throw as the New York Knicks held off a furious San Antonio rally to beat the Spurs 105-104 on Friday and take a commanding 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals. San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama missed a potential game-winner with two seconds remaining to leave the Spurs in need of an unprecedented comeback when the best-of-seven series shifts to New York for games three and four. No team has lifted the trophy after dropping the first two games of the finals at... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3356188/nba-finals-new-york-knicks-hold-take-2-game-lead-over-san-antonio-spurs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3356188/nba-finals-new-york-knicks-hold-take-2-game-lead-over-san-antonio-spurs?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Jun 2026 03:40:40 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Local students at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) said they need to play “fast and smart”, and be able to utilise their style on the court when they compete at the Asian University Basketball League (AUBL) this summer. One of the six newcomers in the regional university basketball league, local champions CUHK will pit themselves against teams from China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, the Philippines and Australia, when the tournament runs from August 2 to 9 in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3356094/hong-kong-students-vowing-play-fast-and-smart-during-aubl-tournament-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3356094/hong-kong-students-vowing-play-fast-and-smart-during-aubl-tournament-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 09:30:06 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan The deputy head of a Hong Kong school has spoken of her pride after her team of talented youngsters was invited to take part in an NBA tournament in Singapore this month. Heep Yunn School will test themselves against some of the best teams in Asia at the NBA Rising Stars Invitational. Dora Yum, the school’s vice-principal and basketball team coach, said it was an opportunity to take her players out of their “domestic bubble” and show them “what the absolute highest standard looks... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3355957/hong-kong-schools-pride-being-invited-play-nba-rising-stars-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3355957/hong-kong-schools-pride-being-invited-play-nba-rising-stars-event?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:12 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The NBA is “very much on schedule” with plans to launch a new European league in 2027, commissioner Adam Silver said on Wednesday before the start of the NBA Finals. As French star Victor Wembanyama prepared to lead the San Antonio Spurs against the New York Knicks in game one in San Antonio, Silver said the project had excited “record interest” from potential investors. “We are very much on schedule,” Silver said. “It is our hope and anticipation that the league will launch in the ‘27-28 season... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3355906/nba-very-much-schedule-european-league-plans-says-commissioner-adam-silver?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3355906/nba-very-much-schedule-european-league-plans-says-commissioner-adam-silver?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:00:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Jalen Brunson scored 30 points as the New York Knicks erased a 14-point second-half deficit to stun the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 and take a 1-0 lead in the NBA Finals on Wednesday. Knicks talisman Brunson shrugged off an early injury scare to inspire a magnificent fightback and give New York a precious early advantage in the best-of-seven series, with Game 2 set for Friday. Brunson upstaged Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama with a masterful clutch fourth-quarter display, scoring 13 points in the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3355901/nba-finals-brunson-fires-knicks-rally-they-beat-spurs-game-1-thriller?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3355901/nba-finals-brunson-fires-knicks-rally-they-beat-spurs-game-1-thriller?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 03:54:02 +0000 Reuters Reuters The New York ⁠Knicks will try to deliver the city its ⁠first NBA title since 1973 when they face a Spurs team looking to launch a new dynasty behind Victor Wembanyama in a highly anticipated Finals match-up beginning on Wednesday in San Antonio. Led by versatile point guard Jalen Brunson, the Knicks have powered their way to their first Finals appearance since 1999, winning 11 straight games and posting a record ‌point differential of plus-271 through 14 playoff contests. The run has electrified... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3355740/knicks-aim-end-53-year-title-drought-against-wembanyamas-spurs-nba-finals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3355740/knicks-aim-end-53-year-title-drought-against-wembanyamas-spurs-nba-finals?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jun 2026 15:00:07 +0000 SCMP Sport SCMP Sport NBA star Stephen Curry has signed an endorsement deal with Chinese sportswear giant Li Ning, ending a battle for his signature that started when he split with Under Armour last year. The four-time NBA champion will be able to sign athletes to his Curry Brand under the terms of the new partnership, which the four-time NBA champion announced on social media on Tuesday. Media in the United States has reported that the agreement is for 10 years, although no financial details have been released. “The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3355619/nba-star-stephen-curry-ends-trainer-free-agency-signs-chinese-sportswear-firm-li-ning?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/basketball/article/3355619/nba-star-stephen-curry-ends-trainer-free-agency-signs-chinese-sportswear-firm-li-ning?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jun 2026 02:13:12 +0000