Chinese Iverson and The World's Craziest NBA Fans

In 1987, then-commissioner David Stern cut a deal with CCTV to broadcast NBA games in China. What followed was the growth of a passionate basketball fanbase spearheaded by Yao Ming’s success in the NBA.
But this country’s basketball culture is more than just Yao-from Emmanuel Mudiay’s lone season in the CBA to a new, up-and-comer’s success in the league, THE WAY WE BALL takes a look at the future of this country’s basketball scene.
Narrated by A$AP Twelvyy.
Additional music by Mark Evans.
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[@willwright2099]

I like how his mom put him in check about the food!! That's the benefit of having your mom every step of the way! Zero tolerance being closed minded. Salute Mom! Much respect.

[@markbliss8264]

Yeah. It hurt a bit when he was like, "I don't know what they do to the food" and stuff but I appreciate his mom who sounds like she is from another country let him know he's being low-key racist

[@jeremiahst6551]

​@@markbliss8264 that's not racist

[@oldmansportsog2514]

​@@jeremiahst6551if a white person in USA did this about soul food it be called racist

[@moisesperez8406]

This guy is like 2K 19 my career

[@Datle28]

LOL, so tru

[@nunnbetter9138]

I was thinking that too and then when I seen little Chinese dude translating I was like this is definitely 2k lol

[@richmondntiamoah3825]

Moist Pere3 Damn Mike Wang is cold❄️❄️❄️

[@BenjiClips614]

Basically!!

[@idowonderz]

low key maybe he was the inspiration behind the wrintingto it, i dont doubt it my g

[@moo422]

Mom is the best. Got respect for the food!

[@notsolegalciv2761]

"we are all Marbury" 😭😂😂😂😂

[@lijunyu]

That sounded like some cult shit lol

[@thorg.3373]

Like Negan from Walking Dead 😭

[@zjz19900621]

A guangdong fan gets butthurt, just cuz Marbury took away your champs. Dude, only you guys hate Marbury. Fans in other area are just glad he brought some changes to the league, much needed changes.

[@CapitolCeeJay]

this's the funniest shit I saw whole year.

[@mariecamille2998]

why do i always read the comment right as the part comes on. i fckn love youtube. yall kill me 😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@hwoarang2001]

Mama kept him grounded and reminded him of how both foods were similar and don't worry. I was loving her comments.

[@gabos7892]

stereotypes are real thing bruh

[@a.c.6325]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIOqp6Sofct6jJo

[@suffolk6311]

She was being silly. How is that food the same as african food.

[@HGsoul4ever]

@@suffolk6311 Oriental food is the closest thing to Nigerian food that I've tasted from different cultures outside Africa and that includes Jamaican food.

[@sirtrollalot7762]

@@HGsoul4ever Its the use of ochre

[@jeffreysario5123]

I suddenly missed Yao Ming. He got a very solid short career. It's very amazing that a 7'6 guy can move like Kareem and Hakeem with 3 point range. I was sad that he retired after an amazing season because of a microfracture. :(

[@jaesteve17]

"basketball is a universinal language" - Emmanuel Mudiay

[@Jackmerius_Tacktheritrix5733]

Apparently English isn’t ‘universinal’

[@saadasif23]

english isn't even the most common language, hold this L

[@johnnyrobinson8168]

🤣🤣🤣

[@reinard2834]

r/woooosh

[@SL-vw7ix]

Blinky Pinky Inky and Clyde English is a colonizer language

[@SpydaCMC]

NBA 2k19: The Journey

[@vincentjuneabueva2715]

Where is the flying dragon

[@devtrain1780]

jokessss

[@joshp9667]

He fly we lose

[@BiggestYeMeatRider]

Lol

[@dough757]

LMAO!!! You have to be a gamer to understand.

[@PavementsChase]

that's fictional man! LOL

[@IchiNiSean]

the marbury part had me dying!!!

[@TheRodster21]

Sean Challenger we are all marbury

[@mrtampham]

same!! I actually don't get it. Is there a video on how he became so popular and well-liked? Statues? people chanting his name? wow!

[@brianbadonde9251]

@@mrtampham he won championships

[@Macmittens411]

@@mrtampham He took a team that was losing to the Championships Multiple times

[@stevenkunzer9027]

To think I had the great Marbury sign my work badge when I worked for Steve and Barry’s.

[@easyL844]

I wonder why more top prospects dont go play in China for a year or two instead of College they'd get paid and build a fan base in China

[@raz1683]

T Thomas Familiarity is a reason plus there a lot to think about when you're going to a foreign country

[@MichaelRockfez]

China is not just any foreign country. Especially with younger players, you’d be giving up things and freedoms that you grew up with here.

[@jekkt]

i think it is because the people in the nba trust every college player more than any european / chinese player. they think college basketball is on a higher skill level

[@timothyree8653]

college is different because it prepares you for NBA standards. lets use liangelo for example whther you agree or not he did have a good run in lithuania however in the combine he was trash couldnt shoot and suffered with drills cause he never done them before when in college he would have done those. yeah playing pro might help but the draft says otherwise (unless you're luka who played pro like at 16) china would use pros instead of college players anyway if possible

[@liewshianjun320]

@Danny Isambard LMAO 😂😂 😂

[@Vyby]

haha his mom was getting on him for being picky with the food xD

[@gabos7892]

stereotypes are real thing bruh

[@philstewart345]

9:59 Marbury came out like a Power Ranger!🤣🤣

[@Harkie760]

Love Mudiay’s mom. He was being a baby about the food and she was just like “don’t be picky.”

[@tommy2chips]

I like the man Emmanual. @5:40 That guy knew how to act and did not take things personally. Most people in the part of China have never seen a Black person in real life before. So they were curious. Emmanuel handle it like a pro.

[@SuperRobertoClemente]

This is real as F, adjusting to a VERY different culture and learning to be a professional all at once. I really admire the support his family gives him, not coddling him or sheltering him from difference but encouraging him to adapt and get better. No one grows up alone.

[@tonywilliams2164]

Marbury over there sounding like Neegan on The Walking Dead ... "I AM Marbury! You are Marbuy!" Lol

[@codyowings9895]

Chinese Iverson...I started ballin in Guangdong. Soy Saucin, Soy Saucin, Soy Saucin on you

[@jeremyevans9629]

lol

[@liveforever832]

lmao

[@ganjasauce51]

Give this man a gajillion likes please😂😂💀💀

[@emanrogers9511]

🔥

[@ripsey_muscle]

Real soy sauce walker

[@510MyTube]

Lol...it's funny how chinese folks don't call dennis rodman by his name but instead call him by his nick name "the big worm". 😂

[@UnmereMortal]

510MyTube yeh they call giannis antetokoumpo '' letters bro "

[@hvlla9573]

Musashi Kaneko 😂😂 dats dope

[@stunna5vegas398]

@@UnmereMortal that is funny, im dying lol

[@TheZSOTTER]

Rodman’s nickname actually means "the colorful big tiger" not "the big worm". It can't be just translated character by character.

[@YichiLiu3]

big worm means tiger in chinese

[@backpackingvillager1480]

When Kobe Bryant visited Hong Kong in 1997/1998, that was also one of the best growing moments of Basketball among many Chinese, no matter HK or China.

[@gloopdwf]

The real ones recognized twelvyys voice

[@prazgrg4872]

Max K was looking for this comment bruh😂🚧

[@reggiethomas4117]

Marbury scene got me dead 😂😂😂

[@jiasui8255]

As a basketball fans i love NBA and all the stars, China basketball always try to match NBA but still far behind it, We don't win We aren't sad and definitely don't quit. It's Great to see fantastic relationship between China basketball and NBA, it bring them 2 the most powerful country in the world together. I love NBA and i love American people. Sports spirits beyond everything. Hopefully 2 government would thought the same, only peace no hate

[@ZachVanHarrisJR]

"Marbury got like 39 kids over there" - Stephen A. Smith

[@liusam651]

Everybody played ball growing up there♥️amazing vid

[@iDanceWithNoPants]

1:55 Dude said in Chinese he’s watched the big worm lol damn he a real one if he called Rodman that

[@user-lc3lt5gz9c]

kyle “big worm” sometimes means tiger

[@a.c.6325]

lmao

[@Shinobi33]

You gotta love them. Their unbridled love for their home teams. Awesome

[@stebossm3195]

Good African mom .. We.from Congo ..you know we eat crazy things.

[@terencew3840]

mom: the rice is the same as i cook it emman: yeah mom: the meat and veg is the same as i cook it emman: but i dont see them cook it mom: when u go to the restaurant... emman: but i know what im eating mon: nuh nuh dont get bitchy like that he's got elementary schoolers arguments

[@hhao7310]

I'm from Beijing and I love basketball, been playing for years and watching CBA for a long time. But yo, the Marbury on stage saying his name part got me laughing af

[@manug7957]

9:10 EM "Yo we gotta find KFC ASAP" ... Bro "I'm on it" 😂😂

[@buffbanana15]

7:11 mark “Yo...we need a dude who can speak English and Mandarin.” “I taught Chinese at Yale.” “Great, you’re our new strength and conditioning coach.”

[@Keensensepersonaltraining]

So Chinese basketball is like the NBA before the 2000s. Nice

[@brindlebriar]

"I am Marbury." "We are all Marbury." If that isn't just the essence of Asia.

[@AmrothPalantir]

This some cool stuff! keep it up Vice Sports!

[@voongnz]

Wait! No tick tack fouls in the CBA? Imagine if the NBA brought this back to the league. Good defense can be played and Harden fuckery can stop.

[@ZachVanHarrisJR]

"I didn't stay long in China because they didn't have any Henny." - JR Smith

[@volusiasorange]

Of course we have Henny lol are you serious

[@gabos7892]

stereotypes are real thing bruh

[@durmickey2278]

@@volusiasorange it’s a joke

[@Cambo_Blue]

They drink Henny like water....

[@uprightape100]

This all started with the Dream Team at the '92 Olympics.....that was the best thing ever for the growth of the sport.

[@robertotampioc7318]

Nope… China already love basketball before that 1992 dream team

[@jiaxinjiang1593]

Thank you for making this VICE!

[@thlee3]

very nicely put together video

[@DankDave211]

his mother at 9:24..9:45. respect!

[@alexanderschaefer2898]

Good video, cant believe Marbury is still over there.

[@yanhuawei3]

he just retired last year, bruh hes like 43

[@Mike-bt3ki]

He’s got permanent residency in China haha

[@user-wz6ux6gm5m]

he is not still there he is retire in BeiJing last year，in 39

[@Mike-bt3ki]

eddie huang Marbury lives in Beijing

[@taj4]

That intro beat you have to put me on!!!! Fire

[@matty0nic]

Love ASAP twelvy voice and narration and the topic

[@cowsandgoats]

300 million registered basketball players would be the population of the United States

[@kozmeetorez]

Erik Mastalerz When I first heard the number I said to myself "that's insane!"

[@user-wz6ux6gm5m]

300 million registered basketball players would be the population of the United States？？？ come on，China registered football players only 1000-5000，even basketball more famous in China，but can‘t 300M player，only 10K

[@omarharrell4214]

@@user-wz6ux6gm5m basket not more famous here tho lol NFL runs things

[@TheXuism]

that is ridiculous . If there are really 300million registered players, China can beat the dream team.

[@josephblanchard6248]

It's crazy. That many registered players and not one great Chinese player in the NBA yet says alot. Imagine if every person in America played basketball, and then just Imagine how much more Lebron's there would be

[@sk33t_38]

the narrator is 100% from Queens

[@sk33t_38]

@Lil T I was pretty fuckin close

[@joshuafrontuna717]

Try also documenting basketball scene here in manila

[@DMUSA-gd6kq]

Twelvy out here Narrating!

[@thedbro8701]

Damn... Marbury likes Jordan at China... even a statue of his self... man... thats insane yo...

[@zPhresh]

Damn ASAP Twelvyy is really a narrator now lmao

[@venod3134]

That's super dope!

[@pharohmaserattibugotti9123]

Great Documentary

[@albertlee2462]

Twelvy is the best person to narrate, so hood with the New York accent plus the way he says Jord'an lmao

[@troyw8016]

"I need to find KFC ASAP" lmao bro stereotype is real

[@yongwilson7859]

Love the CBA as a way for other late bloomers to get their feet wet before declaring for draft! It’s hard to play in a different country but it also lets you know what you have and what you need to work on! They’re players everywhere in the world! Basketball is one of the few sports that you can work by yourself! So love that China has an avenue for their players to develop! And US players have other options than NBA?! Great show as usual from VICE Sports! Mahalo🤙🏽💯

[@paulwade1405]

"People like are grindin' and stuff like that." Perfect description.

[@GK-xj1is]

great vid!🔥

[@fawn6]

This is dope.

[@uptownscenery9175]

He talking about american food and hes from africa or carribean lmao

[@YourBeastRoy]

Another AMAZING vice sports... was just talking to a buddy how big china bball is. Being from philly growing up watching him live its so dope when you got a guy across the world fav player being AI and FUCK i almost forgot about Tony Parker dude was beasttt too haha

[@MistressOP]

lol that steph video tho LMAOOooooo 10:00 whole dang video is now worth it. I can't stop laughing.

[@JJPHILLYLG]

Chinese basketball is reminiscent of the NBA in the 80"s.

[@HeadEnterprise]

60"s would be more realistic. 80s NBA had many HOFs. CBA is still a young league, give it time to grow.

[@user-cx5sx9zz6l]

old？ how about JR，beasely，even some u don’t even heard fight back to NBA like this year Marshon brooks in memphis grizzlies cut 20+10 average in NBA

[@HeadEnterprise]

@@user-cx5sx9zz6l NBA 80s had Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul, Moses Malone, Dominique Wilkins, Isaiah Thomas.. Etc. How can you even compare current CBA to 80 NBA LOL. Plus, Marbury was CBA top star before his retirement, that alone should show you the current level of the CBA.

[@blackstar19gammaburst85]

@@HeadEnterprise i think he means by how more physically aggressive the cba is compared to the nba

[@sarveshgurung7124]

Why is UNCLE SAM flying not THE DRAGON ......😆😆😆

[@ayileenenga9670]

So stupid, that's how deep we are brainwashed

[@KingKsEDC]

Mad respect that he stayed with the team.

[@believein1]

Wonderful video.

[@Jon_N_TV]

why does the narrator sound like asap twelvyy??

[@Jon_N_TV]

lmao didnt read description

[@Essays4College]

At 18:43 did he say it marked a major "malstorm?" What the hell is a malstorm? And all that time I thought he was speaking English!

[@arthurseye]

He pronounced it mal-stone you know New York for mile-stone

[@FecalMatador]

Jenny Titus Like the other dude said, I think he was trying to say milestone m, but that heavy dialect tho. However, a maelstrom is a whirlpool in the ocean

[@Essays4College]

Gotta love that NYC public school education system.

[@Polyester_Avalanche]

dude's eating some bomb Chinese food, wants to find KFC?!

[@johnsmith5898]

How do you know it's bomb? Did you try the exact same food that was on his plate that day?

[@volusiasorange]

KFC is the #1 restaurant in China, ironically

[@gabos7892]

stereotypes are real thing bruh

[@volusiasorange]

@@jasonyang2288 what

[@joaquingrande371]

KFC in China is wayyy better than the one in the us so I don’t blame him jajaja

[@joshuas.6245]

Mudiay is chill af.

[@mariomarcos2148]

This is why I love vice everything is authentic

[@1Hydraulic1]

Did any non chinese person catch that there were 2 different dialects present throughout the vid?

[@cHiLLaZ28]

lol, Cantonese and Mandarin

[@idhcrepresent]

I noticed it too. They were speaking Cantonese at the start and Mandarin towards the end.

[@taniawoodhouse6360]

I noticed it straight away

[@AliGamingTubeHD]

Wish I was tall enough to play ball

[@MusicforMe123]

Muggsy Bogues was only 5' 3" tall, don't short change yourself... no pun intended.

[@LeadBellyLuffy]

I thought I was tripping when I heard twelvvy’s voice narrating until I read the description

[@mutalix]

Thumbnail reminded me of the "impossbur" meme.

[@isaiahdavid2845]

ASAP twelvy narrating 👁

[@SaniCarci]

“Chinese Iverson” 19:02

[@SlugSage]

Thanks

[@shalooom]

Sani Carci man is nice with the rock

[@icyboy771z]

Hes no iverson, but his a pretty good player

[@renceileto1776]

Thanks bro. Tbh this is the only reason why I clicked the video

[@quiquithomas6592]

Thanks

[@Chandasouk]

How the hell did Twelvy get a narration gig? lol

[@3serio]

I love that Marbury went and made himself a legend over there.

[@ZachVanHarrisJR]

This is awesome! Wonderful example of cultural exchange! Peace and one love everybody! Have a fantastic day! ✌🤗❤ - Zach Van Harris JR

[@MrAlucardeternal]

Oh you playing 80's and 90's basketball. Welcome to real basketball none of the new NBA soft stuff.

[@shisteve23]

Mudiay was young and adapting. It ain’t easy.

[@UltraClassFamily]

What's up!!!! love watching you guys!! You guys We have some XL Bullys/XL Pitbull puppies available Check us out Home of the XL Bullys in HoustonTx WE are Ultra!!!

[@johnwilliams656]

2k19 copied righted Mudiay's life lol.

[@typeskid]

Wang zizi the vest player in nba live 2003 facts. He's on Dallas and he don't miss 3 pointers lol crazy

[@AbdulRahim-nb4ec]

I will be playing next year I guess I’ll get used to it now let’s go

[@daveygibson5732]

I've lived there, and I can tell you they love the game as much as any country in the world.

[@MistressOP]

When people say soft ---they aren't talking about hard fouls 11:19 . At least not only hard fouls. It's also just body and body of a 260 man posting you up and leaning into you. that's a lot of thick muscle and weight. It's a hard and soft is more than a foul. It's a matter of physicality that I'm not seeing in that game. I just see fouling ---which isn't really totally skill play when it comes to hard basketball. Ya there is gonna be some fouls but you want to see .. actual strength. What I'm looking at when I watch that video is just a lot of shady play and bad sloppy habit.s

[@king-oreos4003]

Imagine if shaq had played in China

[@fredx239]

I AM SHAQ, YOU ARE ALL SHAQ

[@loganswanson9635]

Fascinating

[@dantheclutchman99]

Next Year's first ever 2019 FIBA World Cup that will feature 32 Teams is in China.... damn 😎

[@just.do.something]

Haven't been a big fan of Mudiay's since he's been a Knick, but gotta' say, this doc has really changed my perception of him. What a great kid. Family raised him right. Wishing him great success.

[@animeisdope5264]

When you about to roast but realize their your kind

[@jonathanchen1026]

You my kind...my kind of girl! Ayyy

[@nealrigga4089]

Shut up corny

[@animeisdope5264]

neal rigga you calling me corny with that type name? Alr yea sure you prolly eat popcorn with a spoon stfu

[@kkingofkingzq9032]

@@animeisdope5264 Damn thats you on yo profile pic is so you savage asf with a sweet girl look💯

[@animeisdope5264]

Cali native Quiss looks can be deceiving🤷‍♂️

[@richswavy3626]

I would Love to see Jermey Lin go over to china and dominate for one season , it would be good for the basketball world .

[@mheron831]

I'm not sure he would be able to do so.

[@thatguythatdoesstuff7448]

Especially since he can't stay on the court.

[@caesars.3261]

MitchSwavy maybe for retirement, but he still belongs and makes a better world impact in the NBA.

[@southchum101]

J Lin is injured, plus the pg competition is fierce now in the NBA. Lin might not be in the nba for too long.

[@banana403]

Nah, I think he's good for basketball where he is. Sending him to the CBA is like telling him to play with his people, which is silly.

[@DoubleD144]

2:19 that table is so interesting

[@sheruns8579]

I love his attitude about everything

[@thagreatfrank3071]

Find KFC smh that place sucks!! Momma said "don't be boujee like that" tell him momma!!!

[@breakaway2x]

The NBA is like Hollywood. The CBA will be more like KZbin. In the past actors always wanted to make it to Hollywood and if you failed to make it into Hollywood, well then you'd just be waiting tables and doing side gigs just trying to get by. Today, an actor or producer or whatnot doesn't have to make it to hollywood anymore to be rich and famous. They can start their own production on a youtube channel and transfer their skills to that platform and make it BIG. That's the CBA. Expect many more people who couldn't make the NBA or stick around, to look to CBA and become a huge megastar in China like Marbury did. You can still make millions and be even more famous by going to the CBA and becoming a legend in a country with the biggest population / market and growing market in basketball. Jus sayin.

[@allthingsexpendable2433]

We are all Marbury!

[@roaches23]

NBA is the premier league. CBA is MLS

[@breakaway2x]

correction, we are all "starbury!"

[@breakaway2x]

except that you could arguably make more money playing in the CBA than in the NBA.

[@baraclude]

They will make a living but mega star? Unless you have been to NBA, you will never become a mega star. I doubt any one in China pays any attention to CBA.

[@joshuatan3353]

Im from Phils and i admit that Gou Ailun is now the best point guard in Asia.

[@Carribeancool]

Is Asap Twelvy narrating?

[@emmanuel_7393]

Nobody: Chinese dude: Wang Zhizhi era was historic

[@bballmixtape6653]

Serbia, Greece and Turkey has craziest and loudest fans in the world...but respect to Chinese fans too.

[@stariaerodrom3326]

That's all Turkey culture and genes.

[@stariaerodrom3326]

500 years under Otomans erase that...

[@nald420]

here in the philippines, fans are also wild and give all out support to the basketball leagues. too bad too much of this led to neglect of the football scene. our snatchers and thieves can catch up to usain bolt

[@user-cx5sx9zz6l]

funny to see European strach this “craziest” title😂

[@bballmixtape6653]

What do you mean?

[@LetThereBeLightxx]

That thumbnail is something else lolol

[@tubbylemon]

lol when mudiay was talking about the food