“A conduit between two cultures”: How basketball will open doors for the 36ers in China

Matt Weston knows better than most about the rise of basketball in China, so it is fitting that he will play a key role in establishing and growing the Adelaide 36ers Chinese Basketball Academy, which was launched on Tuesday.

Weston is the 36ers General Manager of Basketball Operations and his main focus is on ensuring the club has the right coaching and playing roster to succeed on the court.

But after living and working in China for almost six years and working closely with the Chinese Basketball Association in that time, he has seen how the game’s growth in that country could open doors for Australian basketball, the Adelaide 36ers and the state of South Australia.

“Chinese basketball is still on the rise,” Weston said at the launch event of the Adelaide 36ers Chinese Basketball Academy, reminiscing about how Yao Ming’s rise in the NBA made the world take notice of Chinese basketballers.

“There are 300 million participants and around 600 million fans (of the game), so the depth is rather large.

“To put that into perspective, that’s pretty much America’s population that plays basketball in China.”

The Adelaide 36ers, in partnership with the Department for Education’s International Education Services and Woodville High School, will run the Academy - an international education, cultural exchange, civic participation and sports diplomacy initiative designed for talented young students from China.

Commencing in Term 1, 2027, the Academy will deliver a one semester immersive education and basketball development program at Woodville High School for Year 10 students aged 15–16 from mainland China.

The program will enrol up to 40 mixed gender international students annually over two semesters, combining high quality Australian education with elite basketball coaching delivered by the Adelaide 36ers.

The Academy has been designed as more than a basketball program. It is an engagement and sports diplomacy initiative that uses sport, education and cultural exchange to strengthen Australia-China relationships, promote understanding of modern multicultural Australia, and create meaningful pathways for young people to engage with Australian society, institutions and values.

“Basketball is a great vehicle and conduit between two cultures,” Weston explained, “And that's what we're really looking forward to.

“Education and our education (system) globally, and especially in China, is very well respected.

“The opportunities that we have to connect the two and also have them come to South Australia to learn how we do things as a cultural exchange was very exciting.

“(On top of their schooling) the students will learn all parts of basketball at the highest level from strength and conditioning, and just what it takes to become a pro.”

Through participation in the Academy, students will undertake English language and academic studies within the South Australian education system while participating in structured basketball training, leadership development activities, cultural immersion experiences and industry engagement opportunities.

The initiative will also explore partnership opportunities with the Chinese Basketball Association to strengthen basketball development, cultural exchange and bilateral sporting engagement between Australia and China.

It is an initiative that local MP, the member for Lee, David Wilkins was very supportive of.

He attended the launch on behalf of the South Australian Government and spoke about sport’s power to connect people and cultures.

“This academy is much, much more than basketball and really seeks to bring together the power of sport and education, and really harness them through cultural exchange,” Mr Wilkins said.

“Sport is not just about competition. It's not about winning and losing. But it's about connection.

“What basketball has is a really unique ability to bring people together, and it's one of the very few equalisers in our society.

“It doesn't matter who you are or where you come from. What matters is the values, the aptitudes, and the abilities that you bring to the court.

“It’s wonderful that students from China will get the opportunity to really experience the very best of South Australia through this program – our customs, our culture, and our community - and I know that local students will really benefit from building those international friendships and understanding.”

Mr Wilkins said the program would help position South Australia as a global leader in many aspects.

“Our Premier has been very clear that as a state we really want to harness the opportunity that sits in front of us, and certainly that is no more in place than our position on the global stage,” he said.

“I'm really excited around the way in which this program will contribute to the way in which the world sees South Australia really as a leader.”