China has a long history with basketball. It was one of few western sports that was explicitly kept during the Cultural Revolution. I've read that teamwork and communal nature of the game appealed to Chinese leadership. If you visit China, you'll see recreational basketball courts everywhere. There are courts by the airport, courts outside the Forbidden Palace, etc.
Then with an NBA focused on expanding its international fan base and Yao Ming, popularity grew even more.
Then with an NBA focused on expanding its international fan base and Yao Ming, popularity grew even more.