Yao Ming Explains NBA’s Global Growth, Steph Curry’s Impact in Exclusive Interview

**Yao Ming sat down for an exclusive interview on July 13, 2026, breaking down the NBA’s global expansion, Steph Curry’s influence in China, and how the league’s future hinges on international markets.** The former Houston Rockets center-now a global ambassador for basketball-linked Curry’s rise to the NBA’s success in Asia, calling his three-point revolution ‘the catalyst’ for younger fans in China.

Curry’s 2023 MVP season and record-breaking three-point shooting ‘changed the game’ for Chinese players, Yao Ming told reporters. ‘When Steph broke records, kids in Shanghai and Beijing started dreaming of doing the same.’ He credited Curry’s 2021 Finals MVP performance as the moment the NBA ‘became cool’ beyond North America.

Yao Ming highlighted the league’s 2026 China Games partnership as ‘the biggest step yet.’ With over 500 million basketball players in Asia, he said, ‘The NBA isn’t just a product-it’s a culture.’ He pointed to the Rockets’ 2025 preseason games in Shanghai as proof of the league’s commitment, despite past setbacks like the 2020 season cancellation.

Now a vice president at the NBA China office, Yao Ming confirmed he’s working on a ‘next-gen’ player development program. ‘We’re not just selling games-we’re building coaches, refs, and a pipeline,’ he said. His focus? Ensuring China’s WNBA teams-like the 2027 Shanghai squad-compete globally.

Unlike past statements tied to his playing career, this discussion centers on Yao Ming’s post-retirement influence. His 2026 comments contrast with his 2020 retirement interview, where he warned about the NBA’s ‘over-reliance on China.’ Today, he’s framing the relationship as mutual growth-with Curry as the bridge.