Rumors

Nikola Jokic gets mobbed by fans in Guangzhou, China 🤯🇨🇳

YouTube

Katy Winge: Nikola Jokic is officially on tour in China with his shoe partner 361Degrees and someone made him a horse head out of his shoes From the @meridiansportrs Instagram page

Twitter

Those close to the French phenom are quickly learning about his thirst for pushing boundaries physically and mentally. It's precisely why he chose to train in China, according to sources, who said the 21-year-old wanted to put his body through a different method of training to learn more about himself.

ESPN

Those close to Victor Wembanyama are quickly learning about his thirst for pushing boundaries physically and mentally. It's precisely why he chose to train in China, according to sources, who said the 21-year-old wanted to put his body through a different method of training to learn more about himself. According to sources, Wembanyama came away from that training believing it did him some good.

ESPN

Montrezl Harrell on CBA basketball in China: “To me, it's definitely a different type of culture, a different type of living lifestyle in general. I mean, everybody's game is in a different place, a different stage in their career. Me, honestly, it was cool to go over there, see it, be a part of it. But I don't know if my game really transitions into that right now. I'm one of those guys that still love to play the correct way, still trying to find winning plays. If a play works, milking a play, you know, different things like that. But the Chinese culture in the basketball world is a little bit different. Guys go out there and jack up a lot of shots. Bad basketball. I'm not even going to lie. Compared to the NBL, CBA isn’t bad—you make a lot of money. But as far as basketball quality? It’s different.”

YouTube

Scott Agness: Former Pacer Terry Taylor is headed to the Chinese Basketball Association, signing with the Ningbo Rockets.

Twitter

Jabari Smith Jr.: "Only thing I remember eating was McDonald's, ‘cause everything else was a little different, you know what I'm saying? I wasn't gonna hit the little Panda Express back then. I was just sticking with the McDonald’s. This was my second time having a chance to go on a tour of China. The second time, I had to try more. I did it with my shoe company—361. I had to try pretty much—not all their cuisines—but just their type of cultural food. And it wasn’t that bad. It really wasn’t." KCP: "Man, I wish I could. Hey, you got to have a palate for it, because it’s some sh*t, like—I'ma tell you, man, they bringing out full birdies. You know what I'm saying?" Jabari Smith Jr.: "No, but it tasted just like chicken, you know what I'm saying? It wasn't that bad. I played over there for three months, and it definitely didn’t pass the eye test. The food didn’t. But I tried it though. McDonald’s was closed—I wanted to go—but them folks closed at 10:00. It was about 10:30. I'm like, 'Hold on, I got to go get me some real Chinese food.' Get you some good noodles, rice. They got the orange chicken over there—you can kind of stick with that. But getting deeper into their culture, it wasn’t that bad. I actually tried pretty much all the bird. On a plate, with their wings like that—I can’t eat that sh*t, bro. I'm talking about feathers still on."

YouTube

Sean Highkin: According to the NBA's Summer League schedule page, all four of the Blazers' games in Las Vegas will be aired in China on the "Videoland" streaming platform and "Migu" audio app.

bsky.app

The Portland Trail Blazers shocked much of the basketball world during Wednesday night’s NBA draft by trading back from the No. 11 pick to select center Yang Hansen out of China at No. 16. Count Yang among those surprised. “I was expecting to be selected at the end of the first round,” Yang told reporters at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, site of the draft. “So, this is definitely a big surprise for me to be selected in the middle of the first round.”

Oregonian

He visited the Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng, China, along with a member of the Spurs’ strength training staff. “It was a great experience,” Wembanyama said. “My goal going there was putting my body through things that it’s not used to doing and allowing my range of movement and strength. This was probably as very different as possible from what I’m used to doing.” What did that entail? “Kung fu. Everyday. It was like a vegan temple, monastery. … I was isolated,” Wembanyama said. He added that many of the meals consisted of zucchini and rice noodles.

New York Times

The most notable physical change from the trip for Wembanyama is his hairstyle. The first thing the monks asked Wembanyama to do was to shave his head. He did so without hesitation. “I’m pretty sure I’m Buddhist now,” Wembanyama joked. “It was worth it.” Wembanyama didn’t discuss his injury status after a blood clot in his right shoulder ended his 2024-25 season in February. It’s expected he’ll be ready for the start of this upcoming season, though.

New York Times

Cody Taylor: NBA sources: The Raptors hosted a predraft workout today that included Egor Demin (BYU), Chucky Hepburn (Louisville), Clifford Omoruyi (Alabama) and Hansen Yang (China). More workout information ⬇️ therookiewire.usatoday.com/story/sports/n…

Twitter

Timberwolves PR: The @Timberwolves are hosting a draft workout today with the following prospects: Sion James (Duke) Nique Clifford (Colorado State) Miles Kelly (Auburn) Noah Penda (France) Hansen Yang (China) Cliff Omoruyi (Alabama)

x.com

Victor Wembanyama is in China, and it's not all about vacation. The San Antonio Spurs star is in the midst of what's expected to be a 10-day stay at a Shaolin temple in Zhengzhou, China. The temple is a place that welcomes visitors who wish to study Chan meditation, Shaolin Kung Fu, traditional Chinese medicine and more.

ESPN