In a significant move for Chinese basketball, Yao Ming has stepped down as president of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). Vice President Guo Zhenming has been appointed as the new chief, as announced on Thursday.
Yao Ming, the former Houston Rockets All-Star center, was first elected as CBA president in February 2017. He later became the chairman of the board of the CBA Company and was re-elected as CBA chief in December 2022, marking a tenure of over seven years filled with both achievements and challenges for Chinese basketball.
Under Yao's leadership, the women's national team achieved remarkable success, winning gold medals at two consecutive Asian Games in Jakarta and Hangzhou, and securing a runner-up finish at the 2022 FIBA Women's World Cup, matching their best result. However, the men's national team faced challenges, failing to qualify for both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics and not reaching the top 16 at the FIBA World Cup in 2019 and 2023.
As Yao steps down, many look forward to what Vice President Guo Zhenming will bring to the future of the CBA and Chinese basketball. 🏀🌟
