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Monday, October 14, 2019, 14:45
Hope in hoops
By Xing Wen
Monday, October 14, 2019, 14:45 By Xing Wen

Streetball fuels basketball dreams of amateurs who may not have what it takes to go pro

Yi Jinhong, 26, a Yunnan-based streetball player, performs a slam dunk on Game On. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Throngs of spectators crowded the edges of the outdoor court, with the first row sitting on the ground and those behind jostling to get a good view of the flashy dribbles, jump shots, layups, backboard alley-oops and three-pointers made by the nimble streetball players.

The murmur of the crowd is punctuated only by the sharp sound of the ball bouncing on the concrete, while the thumping beat of hip-hop dance tracks — delivered by a DJ standing courtside — provides the perfect backdrop to further amp up the mood.

Nothing gets the crowd roaring approval more than a man of seemingly ordinary stature, flying like Superman while at the same time passing the ball from hand to hand under a raised leg and crashing it dramatically down through a hoop 3.05 meters in the air, before making a perfect on-court landing.

Yi Jinhong, 26, is well known for this feat in China thanks to his participation in Tencent’s recent online reality show, Game On.

Growing up in rural Yuxi, Yunnan province, Yi’s eagerness to play basketball began when he watched this type of game being routinely held between nearby villages during the Spring Festival holidays.

“That, as well as watching Michael Jordan on a black-and-white television I had at home, gave me a strong desire to play,” he recalled.

At that time, Yi, who tops 1.78 meters, knew it was difficult for his family to afford a ball for him to play with, so he would just practice leaping to touch the hoop again and again.

Li Guanyang performs a dunk on reality show Game On. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Yi said he had to perform heavy manual work from a very young age, such as chopping wood and carrying buckets of water, which helped him build muscle and the physical strength required for jumping.

It explains why, perhaps, he was able to grab the basket fully by the time he reached high school. In 2012, after he entered Yuxi Normal University, he was invited to join the university squad due to his outstanding bounce and vigor on court.

Yi grabbed the opportunity, leading a highly disciplined lifestyle by going to bed at 8 pm and waking at 4 am to exercise. His training was driven by his ultimate goal to support his poverty-stricken family.

“I noticed that it might be easier for graduates with athletic ability to get a decent job,” said Yi. “I could earn decent money by playing basketball at intercompany competitions during my spare time.”

In 2016, he joined a dunking team named Made in China and performed at streetball events nationwide.

Many fans consider Yi’s height as the main factor hindering his professional basketball career.

“When I was young I usually ate rice mixed with soup and pickles, which was obviously not enough nutrition to fuel my physical growth. I often suffered from stomachache or digestion problems as a result of my poor diet as a child.

“I have to accept that a lack of training in the basic skills of the game during my early years is also a barrier to life as a professional basketball player,” Yi admitted.

Streetball player Xiao Ying, 24, finds another way to engage in streetball games as a commentator. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

However, the burgeoning streetball scene gives Yi a platform to show off his stunts. 

The format’s less formal structure, loose interpretation of the professional game’s rules, and openness to participants regardless of experience or height, have worked in favor of players like Yi.

For Li Guanyang, a postgraduate student from Xi’an Technological University, the Chinese streetball heavyweights, and not the professional basketball superstars, motivated him to keep lifting his degree of skill and physicality.

“It’s nearly impossible for a mediocre basketball hobbyist to rival a player from the NBA or China Basketball Association,” said the 26-year-old. “However, I believe I can be among the top streetball players in China, mainly because they are physically ordinary, just like me.”

Growing up, Li, who stands at 1.93 meters in height, seldom got the chance to train systematically in the basics of basketball before he became a member of the university team in 2011.

He said he would feel inferior when facing an opponent who had learned to play the game from a young age. To overcome this negative mindset, he started taking part in both intercollegiate contests and streetball events in 2013.

“Streetball games taught me how to guard against players from different backgrounds, and I found that I could quickly improve my own game by mimicking their moves and learning from their variable tactics,” said Li. “I was also inspired by the spirit of streetball players who always put everything into each game.”

Li (second from right), 26, helps boys get systematic training in basic playing skills. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

In 2014, after winning a streetball game in Beijing, Li entered a basketball summer camp where he would compete one-on-one against NBA legend Kobe Bryant.

“To me, it was an unbelievable moment when he pulled off a feint to try and get past me,” Li said. “Although he definitely didn’t get into high gear during the game, the fact that I’ve played against one of the greatest basketball players in the world boosted my ego tremendously. I now have no excuses for cowardice when guarding against other players.”

From then on, he has never flinched when facing up to high-level players. In the last two years, Li has become a rising star with performances in domestic streetball tournaments, such as the Sunset Dongdan and the King of Underdogs.

Instead of pursuing a career related to his academic choices, the electronic and information engineering major has chosen to provide systematic training in basic skills to junior basketball lovers.

Streetball events not only nourish the basketball dreams of amateurs like Yi and Li, but also offer professional players further opportunities when their competitive careers start to wane.

Despite retiring from the professional game in 2017, Wang Jing, 41, who used to play in the CBA and the men’s National Basketball League, continues to electrify fans by participating in streetball games. 

“I decided to involve myself in streetball, mainly to network with people who share the same passion as me, in the hope that one day I might launch a basketball-related business with them,” said Wang.

Wang Jing (left), a retired CBA player, 41, has extended his career through streetball events. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

The savvy player was surprised to see today’s flourishing grassroots hoops scene, especially the popularity of the annual streetball tournaments like the Sunset Dongdan, which was held between May and July at Dongdan Basketball Park in Beijing.

“At dawn, participants from all over the country lined up to register, and the courts were packed solid with spectators. I was lit up by people’s passion,” he said.

Last year, Wang began to host streetball tournaments in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.

Xiao Ying, 24, a female basketball enthusiast, said the mixed-gender streetball games have helped to hone both her offensive skills and endurance.

“It’s common to have to guard against a man who won’t take me seriously on a streetball court,” said Xiao. “I also have to learn how to prevent myself from hurting others, as well as getting hurt myself.”

In 2014, the freshman was selected to join the Lanzhou Jiaotong University team because she was good at running.

“Initially, if I wasn’t sitting on the bench, my role in a game was simply to defend against the best scorer in the other team by running with her, which depressed me,” she recalled.

However, she improved her shooting, dribbling and passing skills and sought out chances to play in off-campus streetball games.

Her gutsy attitude on the court won the admiration of local streetball team New Sky, who immediately invited her to join.

Since then, she has traveled with the team to many cities to play in streetball tournaments.

“I became obsessed with the virtues of hard work and fostering team spirit within a basketball team,” she said. “I do wish that more girls could feel the joy of the sport.”

Xiao and her partner, also a streetball player, are based in Changsha, Hunan province, and regularly co-host streetball games with universities and local companies. Xiao also stays involved with the game by providing game commentary.

xingwen@chinadaily.com.cn


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