Chris Paul Becomes An NBA Diplomat In China
A recent decision to go to China has the NBA’s best point guard making a trip back to the site of his 2008 Olympic victory. Chris Paul has decided to return to China during the 2009 NBA off-season.
While there are only a few NBA players who hail from China (they can probably be counted on one hand), Chris Paul has different feelings about the state of Chinese basketball.
Paul had a very emotional experience in Beijing last summer at the 2008 Olympic games. He claims that it changed his outlook on life, and his connection to the nation remains strong, as evidenced by his recent trip back to China.
The most populous country in the world is stocked with tens of millions of avid basketball fans who adore NBA stars as much as we do. Paul will be holding basketball clinics in Guangzhou for a couple of days in early August, and open a brand new outdoor basketball court in the area.
He will also be releasing his new line of Chinese shoes, which feature Chinese characters that represent his 106 consecutive games with a steal, and the night where he scored 61 points in a high school game to honor his recently murdered grandfather.
Yao Ming aside, no other NBA player has ever done what Paul is now doing in China. This gives the point guard a sort of iconic status there.
Research shows that there will soon be more NBA basketball fans in China than in the United States. Paul’s move is a wise one, as now is the time to pique the interest of all Chinese basketball fans. He’s also sure to gain plenty of fans of his own in the process.
Other player should soon follow suit and follow Paul’s lead. The size of China’s market is undeniable, and there’s never been a better time to act than now.
Tags: Olympics