Basketball is widely loved in China. You can find people playing basketball almost everywhere, from cities to the countryside, from schools to factories. Here is a look at how the sport has developed in this country.
The sport was introduced to China by American missionaries（传教士）in 1895, just four years after its invention in Springfield, Massachusetts. Soon, it was very popular in the country. Even during the Second World War, basketball was still loved by the soldiers during their free time because of its need for teamwork and hard work.
In the years following Deng Xiaoping's reform and opening up, Chinese basketball began to see a fast growth thanks to the USA's National Basketball Association, or NBA. Under the direction of NBA official David Stern in 1987, the NBA began giving away free recorded games to CCTV Two years later, that agreement changed into a live— broadcasting deal. In 1995, the Chinese Basketball Association （or CBA） was founded. The CBA is now a choice for many American and European players who miss the chance to the NBA, something that was unimaginable 20 years ago.
Today, more than 300 million people in China play basketball, and China's CBA has grown to include 20 men's teams. Basketball has become a part of everyday life and entertainment in China.
