Asian student-athletes are in a league of their own

New regional tournament aims to foster collegiate, sporting connections

When the NBA China Games came to Beijing for the first time in 2004, then-14-year-old Li Jintian was there to witness his hero Yao Ming ignite an electrifying tournament atmosphere and give flight to the soaring influence of basketball culture in the country.

"That was when I realized I'd never be good enough to play at that level, but the organizational effort required to host NBA China Games fascinated me. That experience planted a seed in my mind. One day, I'd work behind the scenes in basketball," recalled Li, then a basketball enthusiast who played as a forward on the varsity team at The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China.

Two decades later, Li has since gained experience working at the NBA's headquarters in the United States, and, from 2017 to 2020, served as special assistant to the chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association — who, at the time, happened to be his childhood hero, Yao.