NBA superstar Stephen Curry's recent visit to Chongqing, China, has been lauded by the state-run Global Times as a significant cultural victory for the Communist Party.
The basketball player's trip, which included fan meet-and-greets, exhibition games, and promotion of initiatives by former NBA player Yao Ming, was seen as a means to "disseminate rich Chinese culture to the international audiences."
Curry's visit to China is part of a broader trend of American basketball stars engaging with fans and participating in government-approved events during the off-season. These visits are designed to enhance communist China's global image.
According to Breitbart, the Chinese regime has often exploited the popularity of basketball and the NBA to impose its political censorship on the league, even affecting players in the United States.
The NBA has faced two significant China-related censorship scandals in the past decade. The first involved the dismissal of former Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey after he expressed support for anti-communist protests in Hong Kong in 2019.
The second saw the abrupt end of Turkish basketball player Enes Kanter Freedoms career in the NBA after he openly criticized Chinas ongoing genocide of Uyghur and other Turkic people in occupied East Turkistan.
The Global Times portrayed Curry's arrival in Chongqing as a national spectacle that boosted the local tourism industry. The newspaper quoted a Communist Party official in the city, who noted the influx of Curry fans, even though official statistics on hotel bookings or commercial activity for the week were not yet finalized.
Wang Dazhao, a regime-approved sports expert, stated, "An international superstars visit to China often shows the magnetic pull of athletes in fostering connection. In Currys case, his cultural immersion provided an extra dimensional narrative beyond sports."
Curry's visit, dubbed the "Curry Brand China Tour," was well-documented on social media. He highlighted a massive drone display that created his likeness in the night sky. "The fans brought incredible energy from the jump, and getting to connect with city executives gave us a deeper look at what makes this place so special. If this is how the trip starts, were in for something unforgettable," Curry wrote on his Instagram account.
The state-run CGTN television network also aired footage of the show, reporting that the display featured 5,000 drones performing a recreation of the players three-point shots and serving as an unforgettable gift for the American athlete.
The tour also included a partnership with Yao Mings Yao Foundation to provide venues and equipment support to rural areas and organize a girls basketball league for elementary schools. Yao, who returned to China after his NBA career, has been a prominent promoter of the Beijing Winter Olympics and publicly condemned Kanter Freedom for his advocacy for the victims of Chinese human rights abuses.
The Global Times emphasized that Currys visit would not be the last by an NBA star. LeBron James, arguably the NBA's biggest star, is set to visit Shanghai and Chengdu in Southwest Chinas Sichuan Province in September. James has a longstanding relationship with the Chinese regime, with endorsement deals resulting in exclusive products sold in the Chinese market.
James was among the most critical following Moreys support for Hong Kong, condemning him for prioritizing the human rights of Hongkongers over the financial interests of multi-millionaire NBA stars.
China has also celebrated other NBA stars for visiting and promoting Chinese tourism. In 2023, NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo visited the country, and the Global Times reminded fellow players that significant commercial opportunities await in China for those who choose to stay silent about communist repression.
Most recently, in June, San Antonio Spurs player Victor Wembanyama visited the country and spent a ten-day retreat at the Shaolin Temple, one of the most important sites in Zen Buddhism.
The Chinese Communist Party abruptly disappeared the head of the Shaolin Temple, Shi Yongxin, a month later, accusing him of a variety of corruption crimes.
While the NBA stars' visits to China are seen as a means to enhance the country's global image, they also highlight the complex relationship between the NBA and China, marked by censorship scandals and human rights concerns.
The visits underscore the influence of the Chinese regime on the league and its players, raising questions about the extent to which these athletes should engage with a country known for its repressive policies.
Login