Basketball Without Borders: NBA China players in LA to celebrate the game of basketball

World
Europe

The NBA All-Star Weekend has come to an end in Los Angeles. The 3-day event was all about celebrating the game of basketball, a sport that has global appeal, especially in China. CGTN's May Lee has the highlights from the City of Angels.

NBA All-Star weekend is the biggest event in basketball second only to the championship finals. And when it's in Los Angeles, you can bet celebrities are all in.

But All-Star weekend is really about the best in the NBA and the first glimpse over the weekend was at practice sessions of both Team LeBron and Team Stephan. This was a chance for fans to get a more intimate look at their favorite players.

"LeBron!! LeBron!!!!"

MAY LEE LOS ANGELES "It's non-stop action on NBA All-Star weekend, but there's something else that takes place that involves kids from around the world who are huge basketball fans and what to learn a lot more about the game. Basketball without borders."

The is the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp where high school students from around the world are trained and coached by NBA and WNBA players and coaches. This year 67 students from 36 countries including China participated. Students like Michael Ou who's taking what he learned here to pursue his dream of playing for the NBA.

MICHAEL OU "BASKETBALL WITHOUT BORDERS" STUDENT "Help me in the future. When I go to college, it will help me. Help me play stronger."

TROY JUSTICE, NBA SR. DIR. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS "This camp has become a real centerpiece for talent around the world. NBA and WNBA scouts love being here. They don't have to travel, they can be here in one place and see them all play."

And as interest in the NBA grows at an exponential rate in China, the hope is there will be more engagement on all levels. NBA China CEO David Shoemaker has witnessed incredible growth since he began in 2011.

DAVID SHOEMAKER CEO, NBA CHINA "The Yao Ming era was coming to an end. There were a lot of naysayers that said that will spell the decline of the popularity of the NBA in China and it's funny, it's been a rocket ship ever since that point. Just last year 750 million people in China watched at least one NBA game. We now have over 140 million people who follow the NBA on social media."

MAY LEE STAPLES CENTER, LOS ANGELES "Those staggering numbers are more than enough to motivate the NBA to give the game more exposure worldwide with high-profile events like All-Star weekend. It's the energy, excitement and celebrity of the NBA that generates the explosive interest. And it all peaks right here at the All Star Game."

Without a doubt, a game played by the greatest professional basketball players on the planet is the ultimate way to grow that global fan base.

The All-Star game was close from start to finish, but in the final seconds King James and Team LeBron ruled supreme. May Lee CGTN Los Angeles.