This was more than an exhibition game in a foreign country, this was truly the entire NBA experience brought over to China. The teams, court, cheerleaders, in-game entertainment, mascots, everything you would expect to see at your local NBA game was present. Basketball has always been an international; a highly competitive sport played world-wide. I’m not talking about the game itself, but rather the league—the product of the NBA that has transcended globally.

Currently there are 73 international players from 34 different countries and territories in the league. The regular season games are seen in 212 countries, in more than 42 different languages. Although the international players can be seen via television in their respective home countries, the games are always played in the United States. Yao Ming has had the unique opportunity of playing what would be considered a true NBA style game on his home court—the very court where his pre-NBA team, Shanghai Sharks (??) reside.

The Chinese people had a chance to really “love it live” as their long waited anticipation for the games was finally lived out. It definitely proved to be the hottest ticket in town, with many people waiting outside the arena to simply see a glimpse of their new-found hero—the 7’6” superstar named Yao. His peaceful days at home are now over, if before he was ever able to slip down the street unbothered—those days are now only a dream for him. Every movement is documented, and every turn is met by a flash from a camera. Through all the chaos, Yao proved why he is such a great ambassador for his country—he found time to do a read-to-achieve event at his elementary school, and stopped by his former high school to do a youth basketball clinic.

Between China and NBA, Yao Ming has proven to be the critical piece that connected the dots. Not only is the NBA the best basketball in the world, played by the best players in the world, it is now being played across the world—quite impressive!!