Truehoops/ESPN-Yao Ming's Absence: A Threat to the NBA's 2009-2010 Global Audience

I don't think everyone in China will turn away now that Yao is out. During the 2008 Olympics Yao was the biggest star, but coming close was the US dream team, those guys had the most fans out of the other athletes, Kobe in particular was like the Beatles crossed with Jonas brothers.

Yao's absense will turn some older people away from the game, but the young fans seem more attached to Kobe/Lebron than Yao.

 

It is interesting to see how badly Yao is treated by the NBA officials and yet the Chinese still watch. Maybe they just like to see their countryman abused.

I suspect viewership will go down but not very much and not for the right reasons.

 

interesting read, thx for sharing. Chinese will quickly turn the page to 2010 to see if any of the big names will pair up with Yao ~!~