Yao Ming steps down as president of CBA on October 31, 2024. Photo: VCG

Yao Ming has stepped down as president of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), and vice chairman Guo Zhenming was appointed the new chief, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday.

The 44-year-old Yao, who was inducted to the FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2023 in honor of his legendary career in basketball, had his request of resignation approved at a meeting of the executive committee of the 10th CBA congress on Thursday.

Yao told Xinhua that the decision was made after careful consideration.

He said that his time as the CBA president has been a valuable experience with many positive takeaways. However, he expressed regret that the national teams' performance didn't meet expectations. 

Yao said his decision to step down now is motivated by a forward-looking perspective for Chinese basketball's development. Although his second term still had about two years remaining, he wanted to provide the incoming leadership with a full Olympic cycle to implement their vision effectively, Xinhua reported.

Yao emphasized that his passion for basketball remains unchanged. He noted that the growth of Chinese basketball involves diverse areas such as international exchange, community initiatives, youth training, industry research, and cultural development. Looking ahead, he sees many opportunities to continue supporting the sport through different roles.