On January 23, 2024 French basketball star and four-time NBA champion Tony Parker attends the 13th NBA Chinese New Year Celebration in Beijing.Photo: Li Hang/GT

Making dumplings, trying paper cutting, tasting sugar-coated snacks, playing basketball games with Chinese children and watching traditional Chinese music performances - on Tuesday, French basketball star and four-time NBA champion Tony Parker attended the 13th NBA Chinese New Year Celebration in Beijing. 

Parker, adorned in a red jacket featuring dragon motifs, expressed his joy at being in China during this festive season. 

"I always enjoy my time here. People are very friendly. And especially now at this time of the year when you celebrate the New Year. It was a great experience," Parker said in the interview following the event.

The 2024 Chinese New Year is the Year of the Dragon. Since the approach of the Spring Festival, one of China's most important festivals, Parker extended his wishes to the Chinese, saying, "I wish Chinese a great year, great fortune. I like dragons. So hopefully it's gonna be a great year for China."

It's the first time that Parker has visited China since his retirement and last trip to the country in 2019. He mentioned that during his visit this time, he had the chance to try some iconic Peking duck.

The NBA legend also reflected on the power of sports to bring people together. "Sports is always a great way to bring people together... And I think sports is a great way to express yourself," he noted.

Despite the current challenges facing Chinese basketball, Parker remained optimistic. "I think it's just a matter of time. You know, the NBA's been coming every year. Players are coming every year. And you already had a great one with Yao Ming," Parker told the Global Times.

Parker said that China will produce more basketball talents in the future, adding, "It's just a matter of time for China to have other great players coming out of the country."

On Tuesday morning, Parker visited one of the venues for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the Big Air Shougang, where he participated in a fan meet. During the event, he learned some Chinese calligraphy and tried creating sugar paintings, one of China's intangible cultural heritages.

On January 25, Parker will also join fans to watch a live broadcast of the San Antonio Spurs' home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder and engage in interactive basketball games with the fans present at the event. On January 27, Parker will participate in a shooting challenge with the audience during the NBA 2K New Year Celebrity Game in Shanghai. 

The NBA's New Year celebration, initiated in 2012 during the last cycle of the Year of the Dragon, has become an integral part of the league's festivities. During this year's celebrations, the NBA league will celebrate the Chinese New Year with Chinese basketball fans through various activities, including game broadcasts, a brand-new NBA Chinese New Year video, fan activities featuring Parker and social media events.