China’s under-19 basketball team earns valuable experience despite setbacks

Wang Zhizhi (L), head coach of Bayi Rockets, instructs player Luo Kaiwen during a match between Bayi Rockets and Shanxi Loongs. Photo: Xinhua

The Chinese national under-19 basketball team suffered their fourth consecutive defeat at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup with a 92-69 defeat to their US counterparts in round 16. Despite the loss, Chinese fans were thrilled when the team managed to narrow the gap with the talent-filled US team to 59-58 with just 1 minute and 42 seconds left in the third quarter. 

While it was not unexpected for China to lose to the hot US favorites, the Chinese team's performance throughout this intensive schedule clearly showed continuous improvement. They demonstrated their ability to compete with some of the strongest teams in their age group, and their confidence in the face of adversity has left a lasting impression.

Although the results for the Chinese under-19 team looks embarrassing, considering the quality of their opponents - Spain, ranked second in the world, France, ranked third, and Canada, ranked seventh along with the world No.1 US - the invaluable experience gained from competing against international powerhouses will undoubtedly benefit these young players in the future.

It is worth noting that all of China's opponents at the U19 World Cup have advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament, and there is a high probability that all of these teams will reach the semifinals. China has been absent from the U19 World Cup for the past two editions due to a lack of competitiveness in 2017 and the pandemic in 2021. This absence has resulted in a certain loss in terms of building a strong roster for the national team. 

The senior national team is set to participate in the FIBA World Cup in late August. 

Following their disappointing performance at the home World Cup in 2019, the Chinese senior basketball national team has been in a slump. China's basketball governing body CBA is also facilitating the naturalization process of US player Kyle Anderson of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Anderson was caught visiting China this week as rumors have it that he is proceeding with the procedures to become a Chinese citizen, which is required to be eligible to represent China at the FIBA World Cup.

While this method of expanding the talent pool can certainly help the national team achieve results to some extent, in the long run, the key to China's basketball development lies in the accumulation of experience by the youth national teams.

Participating in the U19 World Cup allows young Chinese athletes to face their future opponents for several years to come and identify the gaps in their own abilities. It provides them with an early opportunity to bridge those gaps and improve their skills. This long-term approach will greatly contribute to the development of Chinese basketball.

It's crucial for China to invest in youth development and provide opportunities for young athletes to compete at an international level. By exposing them to high-level competition and allowing them to gain experience against the world's best teams, China can ensure a steady pipeline of talented players for the senior national team in the future.

Ultimately, it is not just about winning or losing a single game but about the progress made by the players and the lessons learned from competing against top-tier teams. With the right investment and focus on youth development, Chinese basketball has the potential to thrive in the coming years. The defeats to world leading teams are just a small setback in the larger picture of China's basketball journey.