NBA China expands partnership with Education Ministry

China's Vice Education Minister Hao Ping (left) and NBA China CEO David Shoemaker sign the partnership deal at the US-China High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange in Washington, DC on Tuesday. [Photo/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Thanks to the expanded partnership between NBA China and Chinese Ministry of Education, more Chinese students will be able to enjoy authentic NBA experience at their doorsteps.

NBA China on Wednesday announced that it will provide 10 million yuan ($1.6 million) as part of its cooperation with Ministry of Education to build and refurbish public basketball courts across China.

The funding expands the existing partnership between the two sides to promote basketball education and youth development in primary, secondary schools and universities in China.

The pledge was formalized at a signing ceremony by NBA China CEO David Shoemaker and Hao Ping, China's vice education minister, at the US-China High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange (CPE) in Washington, D.C.

As part of the initial rollout of the expanded partnership, the NBA recently announced the creation of three public basketball courts with ground-breaking ceremonies at the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai, the LonggangUniversiade Center in Shenzhen, and the High-Tech Sports Center in Chongqing.

"The NBA is delighted to be part of the sixth Consultation on People-to-People Exchange, and we are ready to take our youth development efforts to the next level with this RMB 10 million investment to build basketball courts throughout China,” said Shoemaker. “We thank the Chinese Ministry of Education for its partnership, which demonstrates our mutual commitment to growing the sport of basketball in China."

Representing Chinese student basketball talent, the Tsinghua High School Varsity team was in Houston June 16-21 attending six days of basketball clinics conducted by Houston Rockets Player Development Coach Kevin Burleson. The students also participated in scrimmages and various community visits.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong, Hao, and Shoemaker, along with NBA Legends Yao Ming and Robert Horry, attended and observed the basketball exchange between the Tsinghua High School Varsity team and Houston Select U18 Boys team on June 21 at the Toyota Center in Houston.

In October 2014, the NBA and Chinese Ministry of Education established a partnership that aims to provide enhanced basketball training to at least three million students by 2017. This unprecedented partnership is the NBA's first collaboration with China's education authority and the Ministry of Education's first partnership with an American professional sports league. Since 2014, NBA China has hosted a series of coaching seminars and basketball clinics in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Wuhan and Zhengzhou featuring NBA Legends Richard Hamilton and MuggsyBogues and NBA coaches Jim O'Brien, Ralph Willard, Jim Eyen, Bill Peterson and Richard Smith.

The partnership with the Ministry of Education builds on the NBA's basketball and youth development efforts in China. In February 2014, NBA China and Yao Ming launched the NBA Yao Basketball Club, providing basketball training and fitness programs for boys and girls at all skill levels, while also teaching the importance of teamwork, leadership and communication in a fun basketball environment.

In September 2011, the CBA Dongguan Basketball School, an NBA Training Center, was launched for elite players ages 12-17. Together the CBA Dongguan Basketball School and CBA/NBA joint coaching program have trained more than 2,000 youth and coaches.