Basketball players from the US have featured most prominently in the CBA for the last decade and a half, with many Americans who sign deals in the country contributing to the success of their teams and the league in general, both on and off the court.
Stephon Marbury (C) in action during the CBA clash between Beijing and Sichuan in Beijing, China, February 19, 2017. (Photo: VCG)
International players have competed in the CBA since the league was launched 31 seasons ago. But the first true impact import arrived in the winter of 2010, with former NBA star Stephon Marbury's move to the CBA marking the start of a new era.
Less than two years later, the talent level exploded during the NBA lockout, with stars in their prime like JR Smith, Kenyon Martin, Wilson Chandler, and Aaron Brooks all spending time in China.
Other high-profile Americans including Tracy McGrady, Michael Beasley, Jimmer Fredette, and Jeremy Lin soon made their marks, MarShon Brooks and Sonny Weems enjoyed very strong runs, and Lester Hudson and Dominique Jones rewrote the record books during standout 12-year tenures.
And the league remains a popular option for players from the US, with longtime favorites Kyle Fogg and Jared Sullinger spending the majority of the last decade in the CBA, younger talents including Kenneth Lofton and Barry Brown building huge fan followings on the way to individual and team success, and established NBA veterans like Hassan Whiteside and JaVale McGee making their way to China within the past six months.
Among the 113 international players seeing time in the CBA this season, 98 are Americans, an overwhelming 75.2%. That includes former NBA big men Whiteside, McGee, Lofton, and Dakari Johnson.
23 of the current imports from the US, or 20.4%, have competed in China for at least three years, with Fogg leading the way in his ninth campaign, while Sullinger, Eric Moreland, and Dez Wells are up to seven, with Johnson, Joe Young, and Nick Rakocevic sitting at six.
The American players who spend the longest time in China tend to be those who quickly adapt to the country's lifestyle, embrace the chance to enjoy different experiences, get along well with their coaches and teammates, and understand that in addition to scoring points, the greatest value comes from helping make their clubs better, with the ultimate goal of winning titles, and thereby leaving lasting legacies.