Basketball legends show off their skills

Ran Tao and Zhu Jing

This year’s NBA Legends Tour in China took place at Jiading Stadium on August 30. A number of former NBA players played an exhibition match. Team

Tiger led by Gary Payton secured a narrow 56-54 victory over Team Dragon led by Mengke Bateer. Li Yuan, deputy district mayor, watched the game and presented the award to the winning team. 

Besides the basketball game, performances and activities during the interval excited the audience. Streetball legend Philip Champion, better known as

Hot Sauce, staged a jaw-dropping performance for Chinese basketball fans. Champion got his nickname as he loves shouting “sauce” when shooting.

With his long arms and great flexibility, he has created over 100 moves to get past defenders. 

Champion has given every move a name. For example, Slow Mo Cross is a trick that a set of slow-motion moves followed by a sudden speed-up. The trick has wowed many streetballers worldwide. 

Born in 1986, Jahmani Swanson might be the most inspiring basketball player in the world. Although only 1.35 meters tall, Swanson has earned a place in American Professional Basketball League. “Basketball is the sport I love. I’d like to show my true capability to the audience on the court,” says Swanson. Michael Jordan has been his idol since he was little. Apart from the regular season, Swanson gives lectures at different schools across the country to encourage students not to give in to difficulties but to believe that they can make it if they try hard.  

During the event, two Chinese exhibition basketball teams led by Jiang Shan and Wang Bin showed off various amazing basketball skills to the audience. 

During the day, players from the American Professional Basketball League visited the Confucius Temple in Jiading and a teahouse in Zhouqiao Old Street.