In the past, Asian countries were mostly just supporters or backroom staff for major leagues. But since the generation of Yao Ming – who paved the way for Chinese players to enter the NBA – the wave of development has spread more widely than ever.
Over the past five years, the number of professional athletes in domestic leagues in Asia has increased sharply. The B.League in Japan, the KBL in Korea and the CBA in China have all recorded double-digit growth rates in the number of clubs, viewership and television rights value each year. In Southeast Asia, the Philippines and Indonesia are hot spots,https://rr88it.com/ while Vietnam, although behind, has gradually built a VBA and VJBL system based on a professional academy model.
Data from FIBA shows that in 2024, the number of young Asian players recruited to the NBA Global Academy accounted for more than 18%, the highest since the academy’s establishment.
Outstanding representatives are bringing Asian basketball to the world
Yuta Watanabe – Japan’s Pride in the NBA
The first Japanese player to score 20+ points in an NBA game, Watanabe, who plays for the Brooklyn Nets, is the epitome of an Asian player in America: hardworking, disciplined, and tactically intelligent. He averaged 5.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in the 2024/25 season, with the second-highest 3-point percentage on the team.
Yuta is not only an icon in Japan but also a driving force for the young basketball community to follow suit. He is the reason why NBA jersey sales in Japan increased by 27% in just one year.
Zhou Qi – The Rock of Chinese Basketball
Returning from the US after a stint with the Houston Rockets, Zhou Qi is now a leader in the CBA with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers. He has contributed greatly to bringing the Chinese team back into the top 10 in the world according to the FIBA rankings.
Although he did not make a strong impression in the NBA, Zhou Qi is a typical example of how Asian players can still return to the domestic league and play a key role in the professional development system and orientation for the next generation.
Renshi Yamaguchi – The Young Face on the Rise
At just 19 years old, Renshi has become a rising star in the B.League and has been shortlisted for the G-League Ignite academy. His speed, effective finishing, and ability to turn around have drawn comparisons to a young Tyrese Maxey. If all goes well, Renshi could be the next Japanese player to set foot in the NBA in the next 2 years.
This is a name worth following for beginners.Asian BasketballGet acquainted and follow the upcoming journey.
What are regional basketball teams doing to improve?
It is undeniable that the development ofAsian Basketballcomes from long-term strategies and practical investments of each country. Japan has signed a cooperation agreement with the NBA since 2019 to organize international standard basketball summer camps and academies. China and the Philippines are deploying training centers that apply AI technology in analyzing competition performance.
In Vietnam, the VBA system since 2016 has helped hundreds of young athletes have the opportunity to compete professionally, many of whom have been sent to train in the US, Australia and Korea. The VBA Elite Academy was inaugurated in March 2025 in cooperation with the Gatorade Sports Science Institute – a clear step forward for long-term training.
Sports Games and the Spread of Asian Basketball
In the world of sports games, specifically NBA 2K25, representatives ofAsian Basketballbegan to appear more and more in MyCareer and MyTeam modes. Players can now create characters in an Asian style, with physique, stats, and playstyle personalized to closely resemble real-life players.
Not only that, in Franchise mode, gamers can set up teams from Asia, even expand the tournament to Tokyo, Seoul or Beijing with realistically simulated audiences and stadiums. Some new mods on PC also include the VBA tournament in the game as a standalone option, giving players the opportunity to explore.Asian Basketballfrom tactical perspective to commercialization of the team.
This is an important step to help bring the image of regional basketball closer to the global gaming community.
Remaining challenges and future directions
Despite the great potential,Asian Basketballstill faces many challenges:
- Difference in physique and processing speed compared to American players
- Lack of comprehensive academic ecosystems in many developing countries
- The number of international tournaments held in Asia is still limited.
- Uneven development among regions (East Asia is far ahead of Southeast Asia and South Asia)
However, with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the goal of increasing Asian players in the G-League, there is a lot of promise ahead. Countries like Japan, China, the Philippines, and even India are all stepping up their scholarship programs, sending young athletes to compete internationally earlier to close the skill gap.
Tips for new players who want to follow Asian basketball
If you are just starting out in the world of basketball, here are some simple guidelines:
- Select a specific country or league to follow (e.g. B.League Japan or VBA Vietnam)
- Watch highlights of outstanding players such as Yuta Watanabe, Kai Sotto, Renshi Yamaguchi
- Play NBA 2K in MyCareer mode and create an Asian player to get a feel for the gameplay
- Join domestic basketball fan communities to quickly update new developments
- Follow YouTube channels with analytical basketball content in Vietnamese such as Pick N Roll, SLAM SEA, Basketball 365
Conclude
Basketball is no longer a world reserved only for Americans or Europeans. With strong development momentum and thorough investment,Asian Basketballare gradually closing the gap, asserting their position and creating a wave of global influence. From small arenas to international academies, from domestic matches to global sports games, the images of players from Tokyo, Manila, Beijing, and even Hanoi are gradually emerging as new symbols of the modern basketball era.
And who knows – in the near future, you might be cheering for a Vietnamese player playing for the Lakers or Warriors in the NBA. When that happens,Asian Basketballnot just a trend, but will become an indispensable part of the world sports flow.