During a recent U.S.-China dialogue series in Beijing, former NBA star and Chinese Basketball Association President Yao Ming offered insights into how sports can bridge cultural divides between the two nations.

Yao Ming speaks at a dialogue session on sports during the U.S.-China People's Dialogue: Charting a Path Forward series in Beijing, China, Nov. 21, 2024. [Photo by Liao Jiaxin/China.org.cn]

The four-day U.S.-China People's Dialogue: Charting a Path Forward series, co-hosted by Tsinghua University's Center for International Security and Strategy and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, examined paths toward improved bilateral relations across multiple sectors.

Yao shared insights into the cultural differences between Chinese and American basketball during his talk. He described his first encounter with an NBA game on television in 1994 as a culture shock. American icons like Michael Jordan would often celebrate loudly after dunking, which contrasted sharply with Chinese perspectives at the time when such displays were uncommon.

In 1998, Yao traveled to San Diego for a summer training camp, marking his first immersion in American basketball culture. There, he was encouraged to embrace the more expressive American style of play.

Reflecting on basketball's universal rules, Yao emphasized how cultural differences influence distinct playing styles. "Under the same rules, there are many different ways to develop styles of play in sports," he noted. His unique position as the first Chinese player in the NBA allowed him to bridge the gap between Chinese and American basketball cultures.

Yao recounted his matchups with close friend and NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, highlighting how competition and friendship coexist in sports. He emphasized that healthy competition reflects the true spirit of sportsmanship.

"I think the best athlete always wants to play against the best," Yao remarked. "Sport is competition itself. Without competition, sport does not exist."

Yao also emphasized that sports create significant opportunities for cultural exchange between China and the U.S. He advocated for increased cooperation in mutually beneficial areas, underscoring sports' potential to bridge cultural divides.