Category Archives: Basketball

Up close with Stephon Marbury, plus NHL’s Olympic scare stories

This week on the China Sports Insider Podcast we sit down with basketball star Stephon Marbury – arguably the most famous foreigner living in China, where he’s been for more than a decade. It’s a wide ranging chat about his current coaching duties in the CBA bubble, the upcoming Olympics, his career in China, plans for the future, and more, so please give it a listen.

But before the chat with Marbury, we focus on the latest Olympic ice hockey news. With COVID-19 again ripping through much of the western world, it’s increasingly likely that the NHL’s schedule will be disrupted to such an extent that the league may prevent its players from going to the Olympics, because it will need the scheduled three-week break to catch up all the postponed games. But if that doesn’t happen, the players should still travel with confidence, despite all the misinformation bouncing around North American media. We break down what’s true and what isn’t, and what NHL players can expect when they get to Beijing.

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China Still Out in Front After First Week at Tokyo Olympics

In this week’s Olympic round-up, I will go over all the golds that China has won so far, up to the end of Day 8. I’ll start with the golds (from most to least per sport), because that’s what China cares about, even if we get periodic messages from the leadership about moving away from a “win at all costs” mentality. In fact, it feels more like we’re moving back towards that gold obsession these days.

Then I’ll look at some other good performance, as well as some disappointments, and finish with a few other developments – including some significant Winter Olympic news and the launch of the China Sports Insider podcast!

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NHL Players Could Miss Out On Olympics As Deadline Looms

In this week’s look at all the latest news in the build-up to the 2022 Olympics and elsewhere:

  • NHL’s decision on Beijing Olympics comes down to the wire
  • Team China lining up “heritage players” despite contract standoff
  • Japan, Australia block China’s route to World Cup qualification
  • Men’s basketball team misses Olympics for first time since 1984
  • The latest 2022 Olympics boycott talk from around the world
  • All the other features and stories of interest
Continue reading NHL Players Could Miss Out On Olympics As Deadline Looms

CSL TV rights deal resolved, 3×3 takes hold and the NBA’s New Year plans in China

In addition to my SupChina column, I’ve also been filing a weekly China Digest for SportBusiness over the past year. Here’s a summary of what you can find in this week’s version

Continue reading CSL TV rights deal resolved, 3×3 takes hold and the NBA’s New Year plans in China

Big trouble in China: how to manage a crisis

The UCLA incident last week was not the first time visiting teams have had problems while on tour in China. Here’s a look at what can happen when things go south and how teams should respond when trying to manage a crisis.

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LiAngelo Ball, UCLA teammates return home from China

China Sports Insider can exclusively reveal that LiAngelo BallCody Riley and Jalen Hill – the UCLA players detained for shoplifting in Hangzhou while on a trip to China – have been released and have now arrived back home in Los Angeles.

The three were arrested last week on Monday and, while they were initially released from police custody, they remained under effective house arrest at an upmarket hotel in Hangzhou – with the trio all staying in a the same room – until their release earlier this afternoon.  Continue reading LiAngelo Ball, UCLA teammates return home from China

Who is Joseph Tsai and why is he buying into the Nets?

With the news that Alibaba vice chairman Joe Tsai is set to acquire a 49% stake in the Brooklyn Nets, here’s a closer look at the newest sports team owner on the block and his reasons for joining the NBA’s exclusive club. 

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Stephon Marbury buys arena football franchise – in China

Following on from yesterday’s post about the growing trend of athletes becoming sports team owners, it can now be revealed that Stephon Marbury has purchased the Beijing Lions, a cornerstone franchise of the fledgling China Arena Football LeagueContinue reading Stephon Marbury buys arena football franchise – in China

Sports stars are buying teams – even in China

Increasingly in the sports world, former – and even current – sports stars are taking ownership stakes in franchises. Could China be part of this growing trend? 

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Why the Mavs have struck gold in China

In a marketing stroke of genius, the Dallas Mavericks are asking their Chinese fans to choose a new (Chinese) name for the team. Here’s why having a good Chinese name for your brand, product or even sport can be the crucial difference between standing out in the world’s largest market or going unnoticed. 

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