NBA players cleared for Asiad action

China's goal of regaining basketball supremacy at the Asian Games has become a tougher challenge after NBA player Jordan Clarkson was reclassified as a "special exception" and allowed to join rival Philippines.

The NBA on Wednesday announced special exception status for its players to compete at the Asiad in Indonesia, permitting Cleveland Cavaliers' guard Clarkson to suit up at the quadrennial tournament after initially being told he was ineligible.

Earlier, Chinese NBA players Zhou Qi and Ding Yanyuhang, who play for the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks respectively, were cleared to play in Indonesia.