Yao Ming steps down as chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association, with Guo Zhenming, vice chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association, taking over.

The Executive Committee of the Chinese Basketball Association held a meeting, completing the mid-term adjustment of its leadership, with Guo Zhenming succeeding Yao Ming as the President of the Chinese Basketball Association. Yao Ming stated that from today, he will no longer serve as the President of the Chinese Basketball Association, a decision made after careful consideration. Guo Zhenming said that upon taking office, he will work collectively with everyone to advance the work of the association.

Yao Ming told Xinhua News Agency in an exclusive interview that his experience as the chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association was invaluable, with many gains, but the regret was that the national team's performance did not meet expectations. The decision to leave the Chinese Basketball Association at this time was mainly based on considerations for the future of Chinese basketball. According to the statutes, Yao's second term still had about two years left, but he hoped to leave a full Olympic cycle for the new team, so they could better carry out their work. Yao said that his love for basketball has never changed. The development of Chinese basketball involves various aspects, such as international exchanges, public welfare, youth training, industrial research, culture, and so on. There will be many opportunities for him to participate in basketball in other ways in the future. At the time of his departure, Yao expressed his gratitude to the leaders of the General Administration of Sport of China, his colleagues at the Chinese Basketball Association, fellow basketball professionals, and everyone who cared about Chinese basketball for their support during his tenure.

The person succeeding Yao Ming as the president of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) is Guo Zhenming, the joint secretary of the Party Committee of the Basketball Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China and the vice president of the CBA. Guo has been working with Yao Ming since the beginning of the year. Guo stated that his most profound impression of Yao Ming is his willingness to take responsibility. The institutional reform of the CBA at the beginning of the year was a significant reform initiative promoted by the General Administration of Sport of China. Without mature experiences to draw upon, Yao Ming utilized his various abilities, resources, and understanding to lead the establishment of operational mechanisms for the association, fully demonstrating his sense of responsibility. Since the institutional reform, the CBA has made pioneering efforts in various areas such as the popularization and promotion of basketball, the construction of basketball culture and honor systems, integration of sports and education, salary caps for leagues, insurance, and standardization of youth competitions. Some foundational work may not yield immediate results, while some have already begun to show effects. National teams have achieved some gratifying results in competitions such as the Asian Games, the Tokyo Olympics' 3x3 basketball tournament, and the Women's Basketball World Cup.

Guo Zhenming admitted that taking over the Chinese Basketball Association from Yao Ming comes with significant pressure. "On one hand, Chairman Yao Ming's personal influence in the basketball world and his ability to integrate resources are quite unique. On the other hand, compared to the overall deployment and requirements for the revitalization of the three major ball sports by the state, and the tasks facing the three major ball sports in the goal of building a sports powerhouse, we still have some gaps. Our basketball core population is in the millions, with a solid foundation, and the outstanding achievements China has achieved in basketball have led to high expectations from everyone, which brings considerable pressure and challenges in this regard."

For the future of work, Guo Zhenming expressed confidence in the Basketball Association's leadership. "Our country has unique institutional advantages, and the strategic goal of revitalizing the three major sports will also bring policy-driven benefits and resource integration. The broad mass base and talent base will be the support for our next steps. On one hand, we want children who love basketball to enjoy the fun of the sport; on the other hand, we also want talented and skilled children to thrive and, in the future, bring glory to the nation." Guo Zhenming said, "My personal abilities are limited, but our leadership at the Chinese Basketball Association, all members of the association, and the member units of the Chinese Basketball Association must unite as one, gather our hearts and minds, and work together to lead those who love and are passionate about Chinese basketball to contribute their strength and wisdom to Chinese basketball. We will build on the work done by Yao Ming, pool our collective wisdom, create a vibrant environment, continue to deepen basketball reform, and further demonstrate our institutional advantages. I believe the challenges we face will also serve as a touchstone for our next steps in doing our work. We are confident and will proceed step by step."