by sportswriters Li Bowen and Wang Jingyu

BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) president Guo Zhenming has emphasized the critical role of cultural heritage and global integration in revitalizing China's basketball programs.

Reflecting on the 2024 Chinese Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Guo stressed the importance of culture in shaping the sport's identity.

"Whether in grassroots promotion or elite development, everything ultimately converges on culture. The most valuable legacies are those passed through generations, yet we've long overlooked this truth," Guo told Xinhua.

Guo highlighted the CBA's motto "Make the Ordinary Extraordinary" as central to this philosophy. "We celebrate the extraordinary talents, but also empower every ordinary person to achieve greatness through basketball -- whether in youth training, leagues, or the Hall of Fame. This is our soul," Guo added.

Guo delivered a blunt assessment of China's 2023 FIBA World Cup failure, attributing it to a widening gap with global trends.

"We've been complacent in our comfort zone - self-sufficient but disconnected from global trends. Our players, coaches, and referees stagnated in their comfort zones. Now, we must bridge the gap," Guo emphasized.

To accelerate integration, the CBA has hired NBA trainers for the national team's big men, and brought in a European tactical expert as an assistant coach.

With 2028 Olympic Games qualification as the top priority, Guo noted how both men's and women's national teams are led by local coaches - veterans Guo Shiqiang and Gong Luming - to unify the squads.

"First, we rebuild discipline, our fighting spirit, and cohesion. Tactics come later. Their presence stabilizes the teams," Guo noted.

The CBA celebrated its 30th anniversary with reforms aimed at enhancing competitiveness. The inaugural CBA Club Cup introduced a mid-season tournament, and a more liberal overseas player policy was adopted, allowing up to four overseas player registrations per team and a maximum of seven appearances across games.

"If our players can't handle two overseas players domestically, how will they face five overseas opponents internationally?" Guo said.

To accelerate modernization, the CBA is drafting policies to encourage clubs to recruit naturalized players and plans to invite European referees to officiate domestic games. Coaches will also receive support for overseas training programs.

Additionally, the CBA will incentivize young talents to pursue overseas opportunities. "We seek win-win partnerships between national teams, players, and clubs for sustainable growth," Guo added. Enditem

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