“1200 Fans to 16000”: NBA Legend and Former LeBron James’ Teammate Reveals Perks of Being the Crowd Puller in Taiwanese League

There is one common joke when NBA fans are discussing a poor performance of a player. They say that the “baller is going to China”. The departure of a player from the NBA to a different league has been a subject of ridicule. While many NBA players dominate in China, the move is much more than about being not good enough for the American League. They can be fed up after playing in the same league for years. While they switch to a league that doesn’t have NBA-level talent, they can also find a huge cult-like following and pure love for the game.

Hooping is hooping. Whether it is China or the USA, it is the fans’ love that keeps the game alive. One of the NBA legends and a two-time teammate of LeBron James explains why departing the NBA was his “best decision”.

LeBron James’ former teammate justifies leaving the NBA

In the changing landscape of the NBA, many terrific centers have suffered. One of the prime examples is Andre Drummond. Since he can’t shoot from deep and has a limited offensive game, at just 29 years old, he is now playing just 12 minutes a game for the Bulls. A team that was terrible last season for most parts.

DeAndre Jordan also took the hit from the current era. Steven Adams may have been a better player in the 2000s. As of now, he has to contend with a space-heavy and iso-heavy league.

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Another Center who saw his play diminish is Dwight Howard. He last played in 2022 with the Lakers and LeBron James in what was a losing season for the squad. After not being offered a lucrative deal, the Center decided to switch leagues and went to Taiwan. Currently, he is a part of the Taoyuan Leopards of the Taiwanese Basketball League and had a great debut season. He averaged around 23 points, 16 rebounds, and dished five assists. 

The Center sat down on rapper Math Hoffa’s show. There he talks about his experience in Taiwan. He states, ”I spent eight months in Taiwan. I was so glad that the Most High asked me to go there. Because I got a chance to lock in what I need to do for the next part of my life.”

Then he gives another reason for the shift, he states, ”I played in the NBA for 18 years and I was like man, I wanna try something different and they called me about Taiwan. I was like I gotta go. I gotta try it out.”

He calls this the “best decision” he ever made. Then he talks about how his arrival transformed the audience of the Leopard Franchise.

Howard has a rabid fanbase in Taiwan

Howard joined a team that had “some of the worst local players” as per him. But thanks to his presence, the fanbase rallied around the team. Diving into the ‘positives’, the veteran Center chimes in, “First year for All-Star game was last season. The team I was on went from 1200 fans a game to 16000 and sold out the arena every game. It was crazy. It was like a parade. Every city I go to, there were fans there just supporting”.

The 2020 NBA champion is having a blast in Taiwan. 

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Do you think he could still give some strong minutes to an NBA team? Do share in the comments below.