NBA stars mentor young talents at one-on-one global final of Shanghai’s summer basketball fest

Over the last weekend of August, this summer’s citywide basketball celebration reached its climax in Shanghai.

On Aug 30, the 2026 The One Global Final concluded at the North Bund. The one-on-one youth basketball tournament, hosting its global final in Shanghai for the first time, brought together 16 of the world’s top youth players.

New York regional champion Jalen Mehu defeated China’s first-ever finalist Gong Juntong 17-5 to claim the men’s title; in the women’s final, Madrid’s Aina Hinojosa beat France’s Racky Camara 17-9 for the crown.

Including Gong, China had four representatives in the tournament.

Wu Yuhang, the 17-year-old Greater China regional men’s champion from Huipu High School, set himself a goal of “securing a top-four finish while pushing for the title”.

Asked what spirit he most wanted to showcase as a young Chinese player, he said: “On this global stage, the one thing I can demonstrate in a short time is sheer grit. I may not match their talent or speed, but grit is something I can produce immediately.”

His biggest takeaway from competing against champions from around the world was “broadening of one’s horizons” through exposure to diverse basketball styles and different philosophies.

Two-time Greater China women’s champion Li Chaoran currently trains in Canada. She illustrated the contrast between youth basketball in China and overseas: “Chinese players lean toward a more team-oriented style. There’s a notable gap in the refinement of individual skills like dribbling compared with the flashier style of overseas players, who also tend to have clear physical advantages.”

Beijing regional men’s champion Lou Jiatong exemplified that David vs Goliath mentality: “I don’t have a significant physical advantage right now, but my attitude and speed can showcase the brilliance of a smaller player taking on bigger opponents, which could be inspiring for other smaller players.”

During the event, four NBA players — Jayson Tatum, Paolo Banchero, Stephon Castle, and Jared McCain — visited Shanghai as mentors. They took part in elite training camps, player breakfast sessions, and the final award ceremony, and got a first-hand taste of the city’s deep-rooted basketball culture.

On his second visit to Shanghai, Banchero was struck by the city’s pervasive energy for the sport.

“I definitely notice just an overall excitement and energy around the game of basketball. You can tell they love basketball here. You drive around, you see people playing outside on courts and stuff like that.”

McCain, on his first trip to Asia, was equally impressed by the enthusiasm of local fans.

“Everybody’s been so nice, and they’ve been outside the hotel asking for autographs. The culture is amazing, and when it comes to basketball, you can tell the passion that they have for it. I’ll definitely come back soon.”

Castle added: “I think it means a lot to be in the presence of great young talent in a city like this that embraces basketball. You see guys shooting on a corridor. You see kids wearing basketball jerseys. It’s been a great experience.”

In conversations with young players at the training camp, they shared career insights and on-court advice. Tatum emphasized basketball’s power of legacy.

“I think that the biggest responsibility that people have is to inspire the next generation. I feel like we were all inspired by somebody to do what we do,” he said.

Watching young people from around the world compete on this stage, he admitted: “I think this is a cool experience to just see how basketball has grown all over the world. I kind of wish I would have had that experience when I was younger.”

McCain shared his mindset for one-on-one competition.

“You’re the only one out there, so, being able to hone in on that pressure that you feel and then use it as fuel (is crucial).”

He also praised the competitiveness of young Chinese players. “I think the one thing that stood out to me is, like, they’re playing hard. Like, super hard. And I love (to see) that at a young age. Being able to play hard is a skill,” he said.

Castle encouraged the young players to stay strong and confident.

“I’ve always had supreme confidence in myself and the work that I put in,” he told them.

The NBA Shanghai Basketball Festival ran in parallel to The One. It featured two exhibition games between the NBA G League United team and the Shanghai Sharks, with the United States team winning both — edging the first 96-84 and cruising to a 113-73 victory on Aug 30.

Multiple international youth invitational tournaments, a citywide fan carnival open to all residents, and charitable basketball camps for local students also took place.

Basketball legends including Yao Ming, Luis Scola, and Derrick Rose also made appearances.

Li Junfeng contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at heqi@chinadaily.com.cn