SEASON OF SUPERLATIVES

CBA league goes from strength to strength as bubble action proves huge hit

On and off the court, the 2020-21 Chinese Basketball Association season has been the perfect antidote to the national team's likely Olympic absence.

The continuing rise of young domestic talent and a fierce playoff battle gave fans plenty to cheer about, while league officials can point to a spike in social media followers as evidence that Team China's struggles on the international stage have not been too damaging for the sport's reputation with the public.

Considering all these strides have been made with players locked inside a bio-secure bubble in Zhuji, Zhejiang province for seven months－and without spectators for most of the campaign－the CBA has good reason to argue this has been the most intriguing season in the league's 26-year history.