New generation motivated by legacy of 2008 Olympic squad
Ten years has passed, but the proud legacy of China's 2008 Olympic basketball team is still inspiring the younger generation.
When current Chinese Basketball Association chairman Yao Ming and his former Olympic teammates stepped onto the court during halftime of Monday's FIBA World Cup Asian qualifier at Beijing's Cadillac Arena, the thunderous applause from 12,000 fans sparked fond memories of Team China reaching the quarterfinals at the Beijing Games.
The reunion during China's 88-79 win over Jordan was part of the CBA's 10th anniversary celebration for its Olympic record-tying campaign and a motivation for the current national squad ahead of hosting next year's FIBA World Cup.
Standing near the exact spot where he drained a last-minute jumper in a decisive victory over Germany to send China into the final eight, Yi Jianlian, one of four 2008 Olympians still playing, got emotional.
"It feels like suddenly we've gone back a decade," said Yi, the current national team backbone.
"The chanting of the crowd, the intense atmosphere and the energy filling the arena tonight is as electrifying and as strong as 10 years ago."
With the home Cup tournament approaching, honoring past greatness motivates the young guns to dream big and make their own mark, said Yao.
"Even though the past can be inspirational, we always have to look forward in sports," said Yao, who helmed China to a sweep of the four basketball gold medals up for grabs at the recent Asian Games in Indonesia.
"Today's event is an important inheritance from which the current players can hopefully gain some encouragement to once again make the country proud at the World Cup next year."
Competing in the same venue with a huge crowd cheering them on, the new Team China faces a tougher challenge to repeat the feat.
Since taking over the CBA leadership, Yao, an eight-time NBA All-Star and Hall of Famer, has rolled out a series of ambitious reforms ranging from the national program to league operation and grassroots promotions aimed at improving China's international performance.
At the core of the reforms is the split squad national program, featuring two parallel national teams (Red and Blue), with independent coaches and rosters to provide more international experience for youngsters.
Coached by sharpshooter Li Nan, who was on the 2008 roster, Team Red claimed the gold medal at the Asiad while Team Blue, guided by retired forward Du Feng, has been representing the country in the Cup qualifiers even though the host gets an automatic berth in the tournament.
Despite the rise of the young hopefuls such as Zhou Qi, the Houston Rockets' 43rd overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, and Ding Yanyuhang, the Dallas Mavericks' tryout talent, China's lack of dominant players with proven composure and defensive intensity has drawn concern from fans.
According to the CBA plan, the two teams will soon merge into one 12-player squad coached by either Li or Du for the remaining four Asian qualifiers in November and February as a final tune-up for the Cup tournament.
"It's been two years since we formed the two teams," said the 37-year-old Du, a former player and current coach of eight-time CBA champion Guangdong Southern Tigers.
"The results of the qualifiers might not be as convincing as the fans expected, but the progress of our young players is obvious.
"I think what Yao started by doubling the national opportunities is something really groundbreaking that we will benefit from in the future."
China lost three straight Asian qualifiers in the group stage before rallying from a double-digit deficit in the first quarter to beat Jordan.
Osama Daghlas, head coach of Jordan and a former point guard with CBA teams Jilin and Tianjin, lauded the CBA's attempt to hone its youngsters under Yao's watch.
"I think China has done a great job in talent development, which is the No 1 priority for basketball," said the 39-year-old, who retired from playing in 2016.
"I believe the new federation under Yao is doing the right thing by giving young talent opportunities to play a lot of games and going to the US for summer camps," he added.
"I think China basketball is definitely rising to the challenge of the World Cup next year."
