With a population of one billion, more than three times that of the United States, it’s easy to understand how important the appetite of China for consuming the performance of the world’s thirty best basketball teams is for the NBA.
The 2013 NBA Global Games just wrapped up, with the Golden State Warriors sweeping the two-game preseason set against the Los Angeles Lakers via wins in Beijing and Shanghai, but the road to brand recognition on par with the worldwide popularity of the Lakers still depends on the Warriors winning on the court.
Stephen Curry, however, is a player that the Chinese can relate to, and may help spark more interest in the Warriors than usual.
“Many people here feel that if Curry can do so well as a point guard with his size and height (6’3″, 185 lbs), perhaps Chinese point guards may have a shot in the NBA in the future,” said Wang Dong, whom you might have heard, or seen on NBA TV, as the skillful yet elegant interpreter during the pre- and post-game pressers in both cities, “It might seem naive, but they see some hope at least.”
NBA fan Fred He agrees.
“Curry is no doubt the star,” Mr. He told me, “He is not tall. He is a sharp shooter. The Chinese really relate to this type of player.”
However, the simple fact remains: for Golden State to increase Chinese awareness of their franchise, they, of course, need to continue to win. Yet the two wins against the Lakers definitely helped.
“The Warriors have had better recognition after last season,” said Yuk Tse, an NBA fan from Hong Kong who made it to Shanghai to catch the game, “Although Kobe Bryant was absent (from playing on the court in the Global Games), the Warriors’ performance was very convincing. The Warriors showed their advantages in the backcourt. David Lee‘s performance was excellent, too.”
“Fans in China feel that the Warriors are a solid team after last season, knowing how to tough it out and rise to the occasion,” said Mr. Wang, “They realized that Curry and Coach Mark Jackson are a good combination.”
“The NBA has done a great job of bringing basketball all around the world, recognizing not just the great talents in this league but also some stories that have been hidden,” said Jackson in the post-game press conference in Shanghai, “and we have a basketball team that’s been successful the last year or so. We want to build on it. We respect and appreciate everything that Kobe Bryant and the Lakers have done for this league and in this league, but at the same time, we are a growing team and excited about our future.”
The reference to a “hidden story” got mixed reactions from the Chinese natives I spoke with.
“It’s two preseason exhibition games against the Kobe-less, Dwight Howard-less Lakers,” said Mr. He, “so I think they are still a hidden story.”
“I don’t think the Warriors are a hidden story,” said Mr. Yuk, “The NBA coverage on the China TV channel is quite high.”
“To fans here, the Warriors might not have some huge stars (that help gain mainstream atraction),” said Mr. Wang, but the team is “practical and capable of delivering the goods when needed.”
Jackson also gave a nod to the Chinese population in the Bay Area.
“In the Bay Area, we have incredible fans and they’ve been very supportive of us and it’s a great place to play, it’s a great place to coach, and it truly is amazing,” said Jackson, “(Being in China) allowed us to experience a whole different culture, one that we’ve embraced back at home and we’ve come close to.”
And while the Warriors and some of the players have delved into China’s social media outlets, Mr. He also pointed to the connection to the local Chinese population.
“The team also opened an official Weibo (China’s equivalent of Twitter) account, as did many players on the team,” said Mr. He, whose parents currently reside in the East Bay town of Pinole, “The big Chinese population in the Bay Area also helps since many of them are back to China like me.
I think if they change the name to the San Francisco Warriors, they will surely pick up more fans in China.”
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