Playing ball in China - It will be different

Sport is on the rise in Asia and attracting more Kiwis to the region. 

For years, professional leagues in sports like golf, cricket and rugby have seen our sportspeople, athletes and coaches secure contracts across Asia. Recently, there has been an explosion in new leagues, offering exciting openings for imports. 

Basketball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the region, offering multiple formats and generating new audiences. Early signings saw Kiwi players and coaches take up contracts in Japan and the Philippines, and now new hotspots are popping up. 

Asia is increasingly the region ambitious Kiwi athletes are looking to. Image: Supplied

Earlier this month, Basketball NZ announced the inclusion of teams from India in the domestic 2025 season, then Pera Cameron (Assistance and head coach, Tall Blacks, 2011-2024) confirmed he is taking up a coaching role at Ningbo Rockets in China. 

This will be great news for ex-Tall Black Tai Wynyard, now in his second year with Shanghai Sharks. 

We caught up with Tai to discuss his life in China, on and off the court. 

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“Playing ball in China - It will be different.” 

This was the simple mantra Tai Wynyard used as he departed New Zealand for a new basketball chapter in China. It was on repeat, after landing in the early morning at Shanghai Pudong Airport. He was collected by two men who did not speak English, taken to a van and then driven in the dark and silence to his new team base; the Shanghai Sharks. 

This journey had started in early 2023, when he was playing 3x3 for New Zealand in Singapore. During the tournament he was approached several times by agents looking to discuss a playing contract in China. With a young family and playing obligations back in Aotearoa, Tai needed time to consider his options. 

The deciding factors were the opportunity to break into the Asian basketball scene, to train and play full time and to set up his family, financially. 

So only two months later, he farewelled all that was familiar and boarded a flight to Shanghai, prepared mentally and physically to embrace this new opportunity. 

Tai is now in his second season and is thriving on and off the court. 

“Life is easier now, I understand how things work and am really enjoying being in China.” 

Tai Wynyard, far left, is now in the second year of playing for the Shanghai Sharks in China. Image: Supplied

Plus, his team has been winning. 

Tai plays for Shanghai Sharks, a team that was founded in 1996 and is where global basketball ambassador Yao Ming began his professional career, at the age of 16. 

In 2019, Shanghai Jiushi Group became the new owners of the team, adding to their extensive sports portfolio which includes facilities and several other professional sports groups. 

Tai’s busy training schedule keeps him from mixing with the other Jiushi teams, spending most of his time at the gym, his apartment and the court. 

“There is such a big focus on practice and working hard, the majority of the time you are working on your game.” 

That was one of the key lessons for Tai early on - the need to perform. Questions about his world rankings and performance marked his welcome to the team. Several weeks in, he was invited to his first team dinner.

The table set of Tai's welcome dinner with the team. Image: Supplied

'Their official welcome was at the dinner table. It was a circle table with the most important person sitting at the front, and the rest of the sitting plan determined by seniority.” 

A meal was shared, Chinese Sake was delivered to the table, speeches were made, glasses were raised (to the appropriate height), and no doubt many other observations were made. For Tai, this was a signal from management and the team that he had been accepted. 

He has gained approval on the court too, as a regular pick for the 3x3 team, no doubt a result of the hours spent on the job. 

“We have access to fantastic facilities. It’s like a job, training fulltime, backed up by three-to-four-day tournaments.” 

The schedule is exhausting, and there is no tolerance for under performers or those less committed. 

Tai on a day off from the grueling training schedule. Image: Supplied

Training days begins at 6.30am with stretching and the morning is dedicated to lifting and shooting, with lunch taken together as a team. A five-minute scooter ride back to his apartment for a rest, then an evening team practice to finish off the day.  

These long days are designed to prepare for the grueling tournaments: three playing days with multiple games a day. Points are accumulated throughout the regular season and determine the seasons’ playoffs.  

The games are played on a half court (basketball), with the winner being the first team to score 21 points or having the highest score after 10 minutes. 

Tai loves the format of 3x3, 3 on 3 or streetball (all names are accepted), and believes his body type helps.  

Tai at the gym for training. Image: Supplied

“Because I am a big guy (6ft 9in) I can defend anyone on the court and no one can defend me. I can also move quickly. The game suits me, quick short movements.” 

Tai believes this format and the growing leagues across Asia will see more players from New Zealand taking up contracts, including female players.  

This is good news for Kiwi players. Contracts give players the dream job: to play and train fulltime, while receiving a financial package that will make a big difference to their future.  

“Basketball players in New Zealand see their talent level is high enough to compete at this level and will just take a few like me, to show it can be done.” 

Tai has a word of caution though. 

“Understand you are just a number, if you are not performing some else will take your spot.” 

A beach in China. Image: Supplied

Wynyard sees a future where there will be more exchanges between China and New Zealand through basketball. His current club is keen to travel and play in New Zealand, more players will take up contracts and the 3x3 game will continue to grow. 

‘It’s fun to play and to watch!” 

Tai acknowledges the support he has received from his family, who have remained in New Zealand and is looking forward to being home in November. 

And what he misses about New Zealand, apart from his family – Mince and cheese pies! 

- Asia Media Centre