File photo taken on August 16, 2008 shows China's Yao Ming celebrates with teammates after winning the basketball match against Germany at 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.  Photo: Xinhua

Since the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) actively promoted the founding of the Chinese version of Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021, the innovative new feature of the domestic sport has achieved phased results, the association said on Tuesday, with experts and officials saying that the initiative will help promote basketball culture in China, and inspire and attract more young people to the sport, and make Chinese basketball mark globally.

The CBA has established a Hall of Fame Committee, and put forward a relatively complete outline of the core content of the organization, work process and recommendation plan of the Hall of Fame, according to CBA.

"The founding of the Hall of Fame would improve the image of basketball among Chinese people, and especially inspire people who engage in this field," Luo Le, a sport commentator based at Beijing University of Chemical Technology, told the Global Times.

The Chinese Basketball Hall of Fame is dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating basketball at every level in China. The inductees will include players, coaches, referees, and outstanding contributors, said the association.

"The establishment of basketball culture in China is very important. The founding of the Hall of Fame will play a crucial role in it," said CBA President Yao Ming, Xinhua reported. "Hopefully, it will spread basketball stories in China well to the world, connecting and encouraging all the participants of the game of basketball." 

"The most likely candidates of the Hall of Famer would be former NBA star players, such as Yao Ming and Wang Zhizhi," Luo said. 

Titled "China still searching for next Yao Ming, 20 years after NBA debut," an AFP article recently reported that no Chinese athlete had left behind a richer legacy than Yao Ming.

"Candidates may also include previous generations of athletes, coaches and grassroots participants who have made outstanding contributions to Chinese basketball," said Luo, adding that "although they are not as well-known as Yao and Wang, they are the pioneers of Chinese basketball culture."

The topic has attracted the attention of a swathe of internet users on the country's Twitter-like Sina Weibo. Many basketball lovers showed their support for the plan.

"This is a good thing for us fans. Chinese basketball needs to regain its power and passion," one netizen commented.