David Shoemaker, the CEO of NBA China, shared plans for the organization to further grow basketball in China prior to the All-Star Game in Toronto on Sunday, the first one hosted outside of the United States in 65 years, as reported by the Xinhua News Agency.
During an interview with Chinese media, Shoemaker shared that NBA China is taking steps to improve the game of basketball in China.
"This year is our third year in a row where we have a special Chinese New Year promotion on television featuring James Harden, Stephen Curry and Jeremy Lin," Shoemaker said. "This one has a special place in my heart because of what we aim to do in China, which is grow the game of basketball and celebrate it with everybody in China."
Since becoming the CEO of NBA China in 2011, Shoemaker has facilitated the growth of the organization in China, the NBA's largest market according to population.
However, the large following has not increased the total number of Chinese-born NBA players in league history, which remains at five.
In 2001, Wang Zhizhi became the first one. Yao Ming, Mengke Bateer, Yi Jianlian and Sun Yue have since followed his lead.
Of the five, three have been drafted. Yao was drafted first overall in 2002, while Yi and Sun were drafted 6th and 40th, respectively, in 2007.
"It's hard for me to pinpoint the moment in time that it will occur, but it will occur," Shoemaker said. "I think there's too much talent and too much drive and motivation in China for it to be stopped. There will inevitably not just be one or two NBA players from China, but a whole group of them that will represent the country and represent it well and play on a national team that will be highly competitive in Olympic Games."
Shoemakers said that the best method for producing more NBA players is by educating kids in schools.
"We've already started working with the Chinese Ministry of Education to teach young kids how to bounce basketballs, pass basketballs, and shoot basketballs," Shoemaker said. "My dream and objective is to have that curriculum taught all around China. We'll see that happen pretty soon."