Dongguan in spotlight as breeding ground for champion teams, players

Guangdong player Hu Mingxuan (center) passes the ball during the men's basketball final at the National Games in Dongguan, Guangdong province, on Nov 12. Guangdong triumphed over Zhejiang province with a commanding score of 101-65. WEI XIAOHAO/CHINA DAILY

On Nov 22, the Dongguan Basketball Center in Guangdong province was packed to the rafters — despite there being no game. Instead, the Guangdong Southern Tigers hosted a fan carnival that drew thousands of supporters.

Under bright lights, 22-year-old Cui Yongxi received his new No 24 jersey. A product of the city's basketball system, Cui returned this summer after a year that saw an injury end his time with the Brooklyn Nets in the prestigious NBA. After undergoing rehabilitation, he is now preparing for the new domestic CBA season.

The excitement in the arena echoed the recently concluded 15th National Games, with the men's basketball tournament held in Dongguan. Roared on by the home crowd, the Guangdong men's team claimed gold — its first in 12 years.

That success, combined with a booming basketball market, has cemented Dongguan's standing as China's "Basketball City".

The city has become a magnet for talent, drawing promising players from across the country while also exporting its own to leagues and programs nationwide — whether the national team, the CBA, or the Chinese University Basketball Association (CUBAL).

In Dongguan, professional basketball and grassroots games enjoy equal popularity. The city's stable economic growth supports sustained investment in sports, while private capital continues to flow back into basketball programs — passion and professionalism drive one another forward.

At the National Games, Guangdong swept all three five-on-five men's titles — senior, U22, and U18 — thanks in large part to Dongguan's talent pipeline.

Senior team mainstays Hu Mingxuan, Xu Jie, and Du Runwang all developed their skills at Dongguan Sports School.

Yumiti Saidake, a standout in the U22 team originally from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, was spotted by grassroots coaches and brought to Dongguan's Guangming High School before turning professional.

The U18 team is made up largely of young players developed by Dongguan Basketball School and Dongguan Sports School.

Dongguan's influence extended well beyond its own representatives. In the men's U22 bronze-medal game, Beijing beat Shanghai 71-64 to earn its first basketball medal in 42 years.

With two minutes left, Beijing's Shi Kui hit a crucial three, then grabbed a steal and scored a layup to seal the win. "At the final moment of the game, you just feel a sense of responsibility," Shi said. "Even though I missed a few threes earlier, I knew I had to keep shooting and trust myself."

Born in Dongguan in 2003, Shi grew up playing in local school leagues. In the 2017 Dongguan middle school league final, he scored 60 points to almost single-handedly carry Tung Wah Junior High School to the championship. He is now captain of Tsinghua University's men's team, with two CUBAL titles.