Thunder louder in China

Boasting another Asian face in the National Basketball Association (NBA), the league is keen to follow up on the opportunity to promote its influence in the world's most-populous country.

Basketball fans will get a teasing sample of the sport at the China Games in October. Then, Jeremy Lin from Taiwan will make his NBA debut with the Golden State Warriors later that month.

Meanwhile, the NBA also intends to speed up its China plans, which include systematic coaching and youth training programs that will be jointly held with the Chinese Basketball Association.