Why is Basketball SO Popular in China?

Basketball is INSANELY popular in China. It's the largest sport in the country, and the NBA is the most watched sports league in China. But this extremely western sport seems odd in the anti-western China. Why is it that basketball grew to become the most played and watched sport in the nation?
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[@ASmith1917]

Very good! American college professor now settled in China, and basketball is literally all my male students do in their spare time (alongside video games like League of Legends). These kids are ferocious about it and I love watching them.

[@poopsiedoodlesp8506]

LMAO what is your favourited video playlist!?!? 😂😂😂😂😂

[@thatamericangamer7230]

@@poopsiedoodlesp8506 take his comment with a grain of salt

[@resevoirdog]

That's so cool thanks for the comment !

[@resevoirdog]

@@thatamericangamer7230 how come?

[@Toke-YT]

Sounds like some CCP Propaganda

[@tianwong152]

5:20 The "Rockets" in this case refers to ballistic missiles, It is literally the team of the Chinese PLA Strategic Missile Command.

[@dawoodahmad8838]

Now I’m laughing at imaginary fans making rocket puns.

[@shonenjumpmagneto]

Hahahaha yeah The Rocket Force is it's own branch of military too!

[@Acrnavy]

When I was in Beijing, it never occurred to me why there were still many basketball courts around. It seemed normal to see them as an American.

[@moralkombat66]

How was it? Did you have a good time?

[@Tethloach1]

places I wanted to visit: California - State China - Country Tokyo - City Africa - Continent

[@Sara3346]

​@@Tethloach1Morroco, Ghana, Sudan and South Africa are all practically different worlds though.

[@awijaya2116]

In fairness, military and state institutions having sports teams is actually quite common in post-Soviet bloc countries. And tennis is also pretty popular in China.

[@shonenjumpmagneto]

In America as well!

[@spartanx9293]

I mean the US army and Navy have football teams

[@awijaya2116]

@@spartanx9293 Yeah, but they’re not quite front and center in American sports leagues. On the other hand the best (association) football team in most post Soviet countries are gonna be the ones that were for the Army or other gov’t institutions during the communist era.

[@callanadamwilliams8200]

@@awijaya2116 Even in non communist countries state run and University teams were the norm in most sports before proffesionalism in sport became more widespread in the 80's.

[@maybee6192]

@@awijaya2116 They were at one point. College football used to be the king of American sports, and Army and Navy were really good teams back in the day.

[@craigstephenson7676]

The army playing basketball isn’t so ludicrous it’s kinda like the military colleges in America having football teams

[@karlosdeevs]

..or the fact that the bulk of armies in the world tend to play rugby.

[@douglasmacarthur702]

Yeah, but most soldiers in the Army can’t just join the West Point Football Team. You have to be a student at West Point.

[@expansivegymnast1020]

I was literally gonna say in college sports it happens all the time.

[@xELITExKILLAx]

Yeah but they are college students playing sports on the side. The military playing pro sports is weird because their main job is being soldiers and playing basketball is a recreational activity for them. Whereas the rest of the pro players, they are full time basketball players. That’s why it’s weird

[@Matt_Fields_29]

They do have basketball too. Army and Navy play in the Patriot League, and Air Force plays basketball in the Mountain West Conference.

[@NotBCT]

I'd have to say that the Chinese obsession with basketball started long before Yao Ming. Having travelled to the diaspora and hearing accounts from the PRC from relatives as far back as the 1980s, it seems that playing basketball and watching it on TV via legitimate means or other channels (in the PRC) was a popular pastime. Even in the U.S., I've observed the popularity of basketball in various Chinese communities pre-Yao. IIRC, when Sesame Street did their "Big Bird in China" movie, they had Big Bird meet the most popular basketball player in the PRC at the time. Dude had at least 6 or more inches on Big Bird.

[@shonenjumpmagneto]

Gotta see that movie.

[@lik7953]

I agree. My parents before they left china watched Michael Jordan and his finals appearances in 97 and 98. Jordan was extremely popular there

[@Biafranbushboy]

The appreciate the beauty of the sport without biases other groups may have. Basketball supremacy is inevitable lol.

[@henny6566]

@@lik7953 I was thinking the same. Jordan made the NBA global and China was part of that globalization.

[@PakBallandSami]

Basketball and countryball match made in heaven

[@noneimportant5951]

Yo pak mapping u Pakistani?😳

[@mrpotatomanboii3237]

@@noneimportant5951 probably

[@ps92809]

HOW DO I KEEP FINDING YOUR COMMENTS

[@luishernandezblonde]

IS THIS A FKN JOJO REFERENCE?

[@KieranFreitag]

I've always wondered why basketball is so popular in China

[@h0ser]

are u subbed

[@ballsinyourjaw7907]

@@h0ser 👍

[@mrcocoloco7200]

@not tyre Okay?

[@xakatas9510]

cause poor

[@reycesarcarino4653]

@not tyre It's even more popular in Canada

[@youlegelin3520]

Pretty accurate video! Just to add another piece of information on why soccer is not as popular as basketball in China - the time zone difference. The Europe soccer games usually play during the midnight in China, which is totally a disaster. The NBA though, usually play during morning/noon in China, which is not so good but still bearable. I used to skip my morning class to watch the game between Rockets and Lakers :)

[@erich623]

Not too uncommon with early development of sports to have military teams early on (before professionalization really starts). The British FA Cup had a Royal Engineer team, etc.

[@thelionsaber5231]

One considerable stimulation for Chinese youngmen to play basketball is Japan comic slam dunk スラムダンク, which also makes Kanagawa one of most popular Japan tour destination for Chinese. As for nba, Jordan Kobe James Curry and other stars are widely adored by Chinese youngmen. When I was in school i saw most of boys in class had nba stars' photo in their pencilboxes and they sometimes would fight after arguement who is better.I can still remember my two roomates in law school refused to speak to each other for several days when James won champeon over Curry in 2016 even though they were so close that we once suspect they were gay couple.Actually there is nbamania in China. The world is much more tightly linked than some people imagine and ordinary people in China also lead ordinary lives.

[@goofytuna6077]

4:34 well its not as absurd as you make it out to be, we have army vs navy games in American fooltball. Idk about professional teams playing against them tho.

[@killawhale8726]

True, although it is college football not nfl since the army and navy teams are from the branch military academies.

[@noejaun2540]

"This seems absolutely absurd." Westpoint is a Division I football team in the NCAA...

[@chris-2496]

The army, Police etc having professional sports teams was common in the USSR. Heck, the top russian team now CSKA playing in Euroleageu is such a relic - the letters stand for Central Sports Club of the Army. Giving fake jobs in the army to athletes was a way to have a professional sports team when such things were not allowed.

[@callanadamwilliams8200]

It was the norm in most sports before the 80's even in non communist countries. Remember in places like Europe before the 80's and 90's tv money wasn't really a big thing in sports so teams worked on low budgets so state and University teams were dominant. Also for a long time the Olympics did not allow full time proffesionals to compete, thus many countries kept sports "Amateur" not just communist countries. Its just that they perfected the system

[@Clarity520]

Can confirm. I spent at least an hour everyday playing basketball with my classmates after school when I lived in China. It was probably the most popular sports for middle and high schoolers.

[@squidboilukas]

so you're telling me... *china be ballin?*

[@ciemnaciemnosc2291]

Great video! Keep up with your work!

[@ThePartarar]

“Yao Ming, arguably the best player in professional basketball” and “You can play with, 2, 8, even up to 20 players” had me dead.

[@boygenius538_8]

Well 5v5 with with 5subs per team and you have 20 players. But yeah your not having 20 man pick up games.

[@luisch1708]

I'm pretty sure he meant in China

[@efenty6235]

_"Ballin' since the Xing dynasty"_ should be the CBA's tagline

[@testerforvedvyaas562]

Great as always

[@trelk_9144]

Great video, I love this format

[@stickr764]

At no point in his career was yao ming even considered in the conversation for MVP or actual best basketball player in the world

[@Eastra3]

Yes he was, but what do you consider MVP contention? Top 3 voting? Top 5? His career was short because of genetic caused injuries, but in his short time he was dominant. For a couple years he was considered the best big in basketball with Shaq. If he and Tracy McGrady didn’t get hurt so much, Yao would have had a great career, probably 2 rings, and would have gone down as a top 25 player of all time. He was that good. I am black and a Lakers fan, just so you don’t think I’m being biased.

[@Lil.Dipper26]

He was never a legit top 10 player in the league… he was a great player who was clearly an all star but that is all. He is definitely more know for what he meant and did for the game as a global ambassador.

[@jinvonastrea1141]

he fking destroyed shaq what do u mean??? How many newbies could actually go toe to toe with the beast man called Shaq??

[@dwaynekeenum1916]

@@Eastra3top 30 but no not top 3

[@dwaynekeenum1916]

@@Eastra3dumb

[@ablebodied175]

"If theres one thing China doesn't lack RIGHT NOW, its people". Make a video on Chinese demographics.

[@luisch1708]

they lack babies, but they have a surplus of Seniors xD

[@NightPhoenix.Y]

@@luisch1708 You'd be surprised by the elderly of East Asia, but yeah.

[@lancetheking7524]

Philippines really likes Basketball as well along with Boxing, and China likes Basketball, seems interesting

[@TheWaynester101]

Because of Manny Pacquiao

[@lancetheking7524]

@@TheWaynester101 that's boxing yes

[@mikhailarcade3254]

Full Passion: Philippines Full Investment: China If you combine both passion and investment: Lithuania

[@byzen23]

Jordan clarkson

[@michaelusswisconsin6002]

Makes sense why the NBA tells people to be quiet about the Hong Kong protest.

[@Desorbz]

This guy is one of the most underrated content creators on KZbin

[@Jettania]

It was brain4 breakfast until he passed away

[@LeeGHThomas]

I don’t know if it could be substantiated… but I’ve read before that there are more Rockets fans in China then there are NBA fans in the US.

[@athenstar10]

Now, try to discuss Philippines' obsession on basketball. Basketball's fame in China or any "tall-people's country" is easy, but why Philippines?

[@Soyuzuuu]

As a Filipino myself probably American colonization and influence is the biggest factor

[@AureliusLaurentius1099]

US 50 year rule

[@henny6566]

China is considered a "tall people country"?

[@marcispammer]

Imagine being suck on sport u obsessed with

[@youlegelin3520]

@@Soyuzuuu Just being curious, are other US popular sports like baseball or football also popular in Philippines?

[@Zirks]

these shorts are so entertaining, they always make my day better

[@Kaiserboo1871]

It reminds me of the fact that Baseball is Japan’s most popular sport.

[@patrickhouston3882]

4:50 someone isn’t aware of Eastern European sports clubs. Red army (cska) still has a team in several different cities.

[@beacebrocess]

I liked this one is a really nice topic

[@shixiongwang6607]

I'd like to add the Slam Dunk animie which certainly inspired my generation.

[@lc9245]

The real reason it all started was an idea that playing basketball will make your children grow taller, so Chinese parents like to send their kids to play basketball. That started the ball rolling. There’s also the Singapore influence. Singapore served as the role model for China, and they also prefer basketball over football, or soccer. In fact, space and specialised equipments are probably not the real reason, at all. If you have known about popularity of soccer around the world, you would know even in the favela, there are plenty of soccer played, because it needed a ball, that’s it. It can adapt into any amount of space it needs. Basketball required a flat, bouncy surface and hoops. Basketball required plenty of specialised equipments and its own court, admittedly much less than tennis, for instance, but still. It also has the advantage of being able to be played outdoor and indoor. Indoor tennis and soccer isn’t exactly ideal, broken windows and all of that. It’s having the wealth to be able to equip courts with hoops, making nice surface for ball to bounce and nice indoor arena that allowed basketball to prosper in China. In less developed countries, soccer rules, because it really don’t need anything at all to be played. Still, the main reason remains that parents think playing basketball make their kids taller. Basketball also take over elsewhere as quality of life improves, due to American culture popularity. That also played a part. Just look at what the hip Chinese kids are wearing. They are all street clothes style, from America, hoody, skating, basketball sneakers. Hell, all of the soccer players and even Lewis Hamilton dressed in street clothes. Basketball, which pioneered all of this street clothes, will eventually take over.

[@archibaldhernandez5553]

You are right about football, we play anywhere, anytime. Even kicking about a smooth rock on the way to throw the trash outside

[@flaviusaetius5701]

I think you forget the mega city urbanism aspect of it

[@ne270]

Europe loves soccer and it’s the wealthiest area on Earth

[@doujinflip]

Space requirements are partly why Asia tends to go for badminton instead of tennis too 🏸

[@singularityraptor4022]

@@ne270 Yeah by grouping all European nations into one 'Europe' that would be the case for 'America' and 'Asia' as well.

[@Desorbz]

I know China has most population in the cities but if they somehow built many more football stadiums they would be decent at football considering the best football countries have many football pitches in their countries

[@tempestmars123]

Not that many parents would want their children to be sportsperson in China, since other occupations are way more achievable and sustainable. So, the talents generally not flow in things like football.

[@lucas9269]

I'm Brazilian and here we have a single court on every school with multiple uses, we play futsal, voleyball, handball, basketball, and some people dance on them. I think most Brazilians boys grow up playing futsal in schoold during the PE class.

[@youarebeingtrolled6954]

They dont care bout soccer bruh they all about hooping

[@RumRayven]

I mean even though they are obsessed with Basketball and the NBA, their talent level isn't the same as other basketball playing nations. Their national team is ranked even below NZ, Nigeria, Argentina and Brazil. All nations which don't have basketball as their major #2 sport. The CBA was also considered a retirement home for washed up NBA players until they banned foreigners recently. So even with more pitches I don't think they would suddenly become an Asian powerhouse in Assc football either. There's a lot more corruption indemic within the sports organizations in the country.

[@usersixnine347]

@@RumRayven disagree. With Chinas money and population an interest in football and money into infrastructure would surely make them rise in ⚽️. The issue is you look at the number of registered footballers in China, it’s an issue of it not being big enough and development not good enough. Here’s the thing, I don’t want to be racist. But it’s very clear Asians are not suited for basketball. Assc Football on the other hand…i think if the sport was more popular and had more money in asia as a whole in general, we would have seen an Asian country win a World Cup by now, we have already seen it with the womens. ⚽️ is a sport much more suited for Asians than 🏀. The fact that basketball is so popular in China is one of the biggest reasons why they are also so bad in ⚽️. For a country to be good at a sport they usually need three things. Money and passion, and population. You have money for development, passion for the sport and a big population = a lot of people playing and lot of development. However I just don’t think this applies much to the sport of basketball for Asian nations. China will never win a basketball World Cup. Again I don’t want to be racist, but if you want a better example, tell me if the Philippines will ever be a basketball powerhouse in a country where the average male height is 5’2. And Filipinos love basketball I tell you. Too bad basketball is a unique sport in the fact that the unfortunate reality is height is one of if not the the biggest factor to succeed because you are literally shooting a ball into a hole in the air. It’s a tall man’s sport and I don’t want to crush dreams but I feel bad for any short man playing basketball, you would be so much better suited for another sport. In fact it makes me angry why basketball is so popular In many asian countries or is growing at a high rate in many asian countries because it is just slowing down the development of ⚽️ in Asia. A continent where the potential for ⚽️ is definitely there. I mean you look at other Asian countries like japan and Korea who are developing the sport but still aren’t as good as Europeans or south americans, their development of assc football is staggered because of baseball. But I’m not angry about this because baseball is also very suited for Asians, and we can clearly see with the MVP of mlb and japan a baseball powerhouse.

[@starf1are505]

I’ve seen the mall where Curry was in Wuhan, a couple of years ago

[@jacquest2642]

Very nice video, now I know about chinese basketball

[@大塒昭]

Filipinos also watch basketball but I watch it rarely

[@m.4645]

Great video, makes me wonder if the average american knows about that (And if,they are probably not to happy about that.)

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

Cry-baby LeBron and the NBA leadership are a bunch of lactose traitors. They're not alone either. Plenty of tech companies, etc as well. People can try and complain about Andrew Carnegie, Rockefeller, etc but they were too patriotic and thankful for the country that gave them such opportunity to ever think of selling out on behalf of one of the America's enemies or rivals just for even more money.

[@Biafranbushboy]

@@robertortiz-wilson1588 Lebron doesn’t owe the USA anything, 70 years ago he would have been a victim of Jim Crow Laws. None of you put in the work to gain the talent that made him wealthy. That’s very communist of you to claim the effort of another man just cause you share a birth country with him.

[@ps92809]

@@robertortiz-wilson1588 Stop copy and pasting your opinion it's not that important

[@PA-uj1rd]

I'm from China. I live in a university because my dad works there. There are around 30 basketball courts within 5 mins walk from my home. It is in the south of China so people play all the time. From 6am to 11pm, whenever I wanted to play, there will always be someone playing there.

[@MikaelZeno]

I have to say, the huge popularity of the anime Slam Dunk in the late 90s also had a great impact for the pre-Yao time... until all foreign anime was forced off TV broadcasts.

[@moldveien1515]

八一(bayi) means 8-1 and is in PLA flags so the 八一rocket is the team of the PLA rocket force

[@Ami-gu5zi]

only 9000 views?! now this is underrated!

[@sdeepj]

Military teams were common in the USSR. The Soviet national hockey team was essentially the Red Army team

[@Ja-jq7pc]

1:54 He do have some cake tho

[@MacVerick]

I played basketball in Beijing on their famous outdoor courts (I forget the name) their with players from the Chinese Olympic mens and womens teams. It was a lot of fun and I think about it often! I also met Stephan Marbury there as he was playing for the Beijing Ducks!

[@JohnTibbitt]

hoser man I love your narration and topic variety. IDK why I chose to comment under this video cuz I've watched like 100 of them and tried to like them all but I've decided to drop an algo comment for the future videos that I'll watch. Thank you.

[@pjt8919]

Philippines is more basketball and NBA crazy than China. But China got the money, that’s why the NBA caters more to them with preseason games and basketball camps. And nba players with their basketball shoe companies tours.

[@ronaldofrias2176]

Tbh PBA is the 2nd oldest basketball org in the world, yet we have yet to produce a good basketball player that can competently play in the world stage. Also PBA kinda suck.

[@mikhailarcade3254]

Lol. China has more potential and more Asian Powerhouse than the Philippines that time. While Philippines still stucked at old school rules and basketball playing style. Pity

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

Cry-baby LeBron and the NBA leadership are a bunch of lactose traitors. They're not alone either. Plenty of tech companies, etc as well. People can try and complain about Andrew Carnegie, Rockefeller, etc but they were too patriotic and thankful for the country that gave them such opportunity to ever think of selling out on behalf of one of the America's enemies or rivals, even for more money.

[@WinninethePING]

​@@mikhailarcade3254wellll what about now? 😂

[@rickyboy6390]

Yea with imported players i noticed a lot of players whom play for the Philippine team don't almost look like a Filipino most and some look a like American black or moreover half American half Filipino born in the Philippines or born in the US but was sent to the Philippines to train

[@l_taker1470]

i love your content you should upload more frequently

[@MarcusPangilinan]

“Why is Basketball SO Popular in China” *Laughs in the Philippines*

[@GIN.356.A]

Philippines was an American colony, but China didn't have that influence. But surprisingly they ended up loving basketball anyways

[@omnisciencexx790]

@@GIN.356.A Its not about being an america colony because it became popular way after america left the PH

[@GIN.356.A]

@@omnisciencexx790 american influence never left tho, that was my point. Just like a lot of former colonies, even after gaining independence they remain in the same sphere of influence of the colonial power. Just look at countries in africa, like algeria, congo, etc. They speak french, consume french media, and immigrate to france. Same with India adn the UK, and we both know how much pinoys love american pop culture and how many of them moved to the USA lol

[@rickyboy6390]

Laughs with imported player's

[@TomBear78]

Born in China, can’t play basket ball at all. (In fact I can’t even play any ball game)😂.

[@byzen23]

Why

[@TomBear78]

@@byzen23 when it comes to hobbies it varies between person and person.

[@byzen23]

@@TomBear78 True

[@Spabsa]

So weird how Chinas most popular sport is Basketball and Japans is Baseball. As an American, this brings a smile to my face. PS Ohtani is changing the game forever. Congrats 🇯🇵

[@davidwarren687]

To be fair, in college football, army, navy, and Air Force academies all have Div 1 football teams.

[@Matt_Fields_29]

The US military doesn't have pro basketball franchises but the military academies have college teams. Not sure how well they'd fare against an NBA or NFL team tho.

[@死鱼眼的喵星人]

One addition, the CPC army encourages its soldier to join sports from red army age, including volley ball and basketball. So if you travel back to the sino-japanese war time, the place has most basketball ground is likely under CPC control. The 81 basketball team dominates CBA in 1995-2000.

[@jiachengwei1307]

this video didn't even mention the biggest kickstarter for Chinese basketball market. The anime, SlamDunk. This one is even bigger than Jordan back in 90s, then is Yao Ming. I won't admit this vedio is 100% accurate.

[@CybrosisEvolved]

Nice, good old youtube short docos.

[@ginocrededio7421]

Man this channel slaps

[@rooooooby]

US military academies play civilian universities in sports. It's not really so inconceivable that the Chinese military plays in a professional league.

[@daracronin8930]

Based on which sport is easier to play it is definitely football as u can play football with anything round and u don’t need to have goals h can just do kicky uppys or use two trees or two pipes

[@tonychen3628]

😂I really have some weird feeling ever since I started to play baseball, and felt so baffled on why among the 4 major sport league of the US, only the MLB is so slow on making its major appearances on China's major sport networks(CCTV and regional channels), like I gave up on basketball before university cuz I hurt my knee, and all I can do now is some shooting around, but the courts will mostly have pick-up games that I couldn't join. Man I wish baseball will soon catch on its own popularity, with some help of a new star from CN.(true even in America it is literally pastime already😂)

[@jod_hates_it_here6895]

i suggest you read “Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.” it clears up the whole “China is a weird mix of communist/socialist/capitalist in one country,” conversation. in short, China describes itself as a country in the “primes stages of socialism.” in praxis, it’s a market economy that uses various forms ownership including private, cooperative, and state control of production and distribution. it seems to be that the state’s main job is to finance growth, and support even development within in the massive nation. the state is controlled by the communist party of China (CPC) and a few other collaborating parties. the CPC seems to be comprised of legitimate marxists who do actually take input from the masses, and their democratic seems extremely thorough. this is all from an outsider’s perspective, but i would love to go to China some day it seems lovely!

[@CountryballPhilAnimation]

Philippines love Basketball

[@frankskynyrd]

The military groups starting leagues isn’t that uncommon as many others have stated. He also says it would be weird if the Red Sox played against the us navy. Which yeah it would. But there’s a big football bowl game every year where the us army team plays the navy team lmao and they both play other teams throughout the season that aren’t different arms of the military

[@SJPace1776]

I am from Kentucky and we are pretty obsessed with basketball. The curious wrinkle is few people I know follow the NBA, vast majority focus on NCAA with UK and UL. Do the Chinese have any idea we Americans show up in as great as numbers in the stand with arguably more passion to watch "amateur" basketball?

[@GrandTerr]

Nobody called Yao the best NBA player at any point in time. Cool video

[@BeastinlosersHD]

I mean its not like our military academies don't play other college teams, but you're right the actual actual military doesn't play against pro teams.

[@soffren]

To be fair, in the United States, we do have the Army, the Navy, and the Air force compete at the university level through their academies.

[@jimmyj1969]

ΤΗΑΤ was something I didn't know! I mean, sure, China to have a certain love for basket - but MOST popular sport?!

[@oliveoil2632]

yes it is

[@robertharris6092]

Aye. Good to see houston in a video.

[@zwen3763]

6:24 Bruh 20vs20 half court games is no joke its real. In my school theres only one basketball court but everyday after school the entire school comes to play. You don't know what its like to be quadriple teamed constantly.

[@SunDevi1s66]

Hyped to see basketball at the 2024 Olympics us vs China

[@binguspingus2461]

The concept of china having military teams isn’t weird, collage football has all branches

[@jeanborrero]

INTERESTING TY

[@itsrin868]

surprisingly interesting history!

[@tanukitaro7930]

I recently found your channel, I really enjoy your content. PD: it’s good to see a b4b reference

[@steve00alt70]

NBA has just gained +1000 social credit points. I didnt even know China does basketball..... is it a new sport in China?

[@connormclernon26]

It’s been around since 1895

[@m.h.a.2404]

@@connormclernon26 yo you guys didn't watch the video, they say they've been playing the game since dynasty tang? Of course china is the birthplace of anything, china numba 1

[@connormclernon26]

Qing Dynasty

[@Verner-eh4pk]

I am from Finland which its basketball was founded in 1939 and it is weird. First off there are 2 mvps. Which is foreign and homeland. Also there is promotion and relegation which is really a football/ soccer thing.

[@angrygopnik2317]

I found what you wrote in 4:07 really odd as pretty much every country in the world apart from the US holds nationalised sports leagues where teams all over the country play in one single league. Saying China doesn't respect regional differences in a genocidal level is purely idiotic and completely unnecessary.

[@Vitorruy1]

yes that didnt make any sense

[@tamalesftw]

It’s because of hanification that is currently happening in China and the concentration camps in xinjiang targeted at the uyghur ethnic minority group

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

Not idiotic at all if you know history.

[@ry_an.]

Well, those concentration camps might like to have a word

[@joeykelly5642]

He’s referring to the systematic genocide and ethnic colonialism that is going on in the western territories of China right now. Han Chinese people are being sent to these regions to displace the native populations and strengthen China’s territorial claims. The Han Chinese often receive preferential treatment in getting jobs in these areas, while people of other ethnic groups are frequently imprisoned in work camps, barred from reproducing, or sometimes forcibly sterilized. It’s especially bad with the Uyghurs as we often see in the media (mainly because they are majority Muslim), but is happening with other ethnic groups, too. The CCP is the modern-day Nazi regime.

[@KFordmusic]

Not to mention Linsanity. That’s why the camps are there. Once there is another Chinese star in the League there will be another boom. The league is starving for one

[@harrywu7268]

Jlin is not chinese

[@Drpepperspray1010]

I always figured basketball is popular in china because they all wish they were taller. I can say that, I’m Asian

[@monkeytimesmagazine3725]

It's not crazy to think of the military having their own sports leagues, the all of the US military branches have their own football teams

[@mikexstad1121]

Actually many football clubs in Europe starred out with being associated with branches of the military. So it is not that uncommon

[@Fluffypancakes-o7q]

Philippines: I'm a joke to you?

[@VarinaofVallera]

The Qing dysnasty will never be ballin'. The Qing dynasty

[@Meinan4370]

Before Yao Ming it was Kobe

[@appa609]

The concept of military affiliated teams is not weird at all. Ever watch college football? The annual Army-Navy game? America does it too.

[@CliffCardi]

4:38 I mean, Army and Navy academies and play against our colleges in the NCAA.

[@vortigan9068]

music goes soo hard bro

[@ItsAVolcano]

How silly having the military playing in a sports league! Next you'll be telling me U.S. military cadets take part in a big football competition every year...😅

[@m.h.a.2404]

Football struggle in china because urbanization? Pffft in brazil we play football on the street

[@YujiroHanmaaaa]

Football will overtake Basketball in China nomatter how hard this guy trying to down play it. Football ois gettingmore popular and China is investing alot wich will pays off soon.

[@trstdaprcss]

@@YujiroHanmaaaa if you don't know basketball is already popular than football in china

[@ParsaPLAN]

@@trstdaprcss he said it *will* overtake

[@YujiroHanmaaaa]

@@trstdaprcss Football has it's roots in China about 5000 years ago. The reason Baskket ball is popular at the moment is because NBA had invested AALOT in the recent years. Once China improved their National Team for international competitions and have the world cup in the country it's a matter time power will shift to Football.

[@greenearth975]

@@YujiroHanmaaaa People have been saying this ahit about American sports since the dawn of time. If I had a nickle for every time someone European on KZbin told me soccer would be the most popular sport in America in twenty years I would be a millionaire. Its not happening, atleast until soccer evolves past the stone age league format and would cup model they have now. The NBA and NFL will still be around for a long time simply because they earn money and soccer doesn't.

[@stanislasbarrage7579]

Let’s be real for a country with 1.4 billions people getting beat by New Zealand Australia Iran and the Philippines there good but not that good

[@Youdontknowchina]

For now, I would say the NBA is not pop as it used to be .

[@yoshimitsu9923]

“They dont have youtube there” true they dont know what a vpn is

[@cyuq-cm9lz]

Hahaha is like this

[@lettucetomatoonion]

Awesome video but outside of China Yao was never in the argument for best in the league

[@merucrypoison296]

How do they even see the court tho if there eyes are so slanted

[@Lightscribe225]

Very well considering Yao's career.

[@Kaiserboo1871]

I mean, in the US the Air Force, Army, and Navy have college football teams

[@xiaowanhuahua]

that's very sensible and easy understanding,since our chinese schools always dont have football or baseball playground ,basketball is the only team sports that boys can consume their vigour

[@Nononom12]

College sports have navy vs air force. Granted they are schools but it's not a foreign concept

[@suzylu333]

this is so good