Before 1995, basketball careers were fostered mainly with State support. But, although competitive leagues had been developing rapidly, State funding could not be sustained, hindering further growth. Consequently, the game was professionalized.
1995年以前，中國籃球的發展主要依靠國家資助。然而，盡管發展很快，國家資助體系卻難以維系，妨礙了這項運動的進一步發展。因此，中國籃球開啟了職業化進程。
In 1995, a Chinese version of the NBA, namely the Chinese Basketball Association, CBA for short, came into play.
1995年，中國版NBA，即中國籃球職業聯賽（簡稱CBA）誕生。
After years of cultivation and development, the league has significantly improved, with a number of high-caliber players sprang up. Among those were Yao Ming, Wang Zhizhi, Yi Jianlian, Mengke Bateer and Sun Yue who have played in the NBA.
經過多年發展，CBA的水平得到了極大的提高，從中涌現出了多位高水平的籃球運動員，如姚明、王治郅、易建聯、巴特爾和孫悅，他們都曾效力于美國NBA的職業球隊。
During the 2007 NBA All-Star Game, the player who received the most votes was neither Lebron James nor Kobe Bryant. It was Yao Ming, the first Chinese-born athlete to play successfully in the NBA.
在2007年的NBA全明星賽中，最受歡迎的球員既非勒布朗·詹姆斯，也非科比·布萊恩特，而是來自中國的姚明。
Yao retired from basketball on July 20, 2011, leaving behind giant footprints on the basketball court.
姚明于2011年7月20日正式退出籃球舞臺，在籃壇上留下了巨人的足跡。
The Chinese basketball authorities, previously fearing that players who go abroad will never return, now encourage players to get overseas experience, as China looks to raise its level of international competitiveness.
為了提高男籃的國際競爭力水平，過去那些擔心球員一旦出國打球就再也不會回國的中國籃球官員們，現在積極鼓勵球員們到海外去歷練，以獲取更多國際大賽的經驗。
The CBA not only encourages local exports, but also welcomes foreign imports.
CBA不僅鼓勵本國“出口”，同時還歡迎外國“進口”。
Being coordinated by both local sports committees and businesses, the clubs in the CBA are able to work with foreign investors, bring in foreign players and coaches, and freely trade players with other clubs.
CBA中的職業俱樂部由地方體育協會與地方商業機構一同協調運營。他們由此能夠與境外投資者合作，引進國外的球員及教練，且球員們也可以在俱樂部間自由轉會。
In 1996 James Hodges became one of the first Americans to play in the CBA.
As the league becomes more professionalized, quite a few well-known international players have joined the CBA. Notable players include NBA All-Stars Stephon Marbury, Steve Francis and Kenyon Martin.
1996年，詹姆斯·郝吉斯成為第一位在CBA中效力的美國球員。隨著CBA職業化運營的不斷成熟，很多知名的國際球員相繼加入了這個中國的籃球聯賽，其中包括昔日的NBA全明星球員斯蒂芬·馬布里、史蒂夫·弗朗西斯和肯揚·馬丁。
Some foreign players are a crucial part of their teams. A few have NBA experience. Many have played at American universities with good teams and have some experience playing in Europe, Argentina, Turkey or Israel or some other place.
一些外籍球員成為了球隊的主力。少部分外籍球員有效力NBA的經歷，多數都曾在美國大學中的優秀球隊中打過球，并有過一些在歐洲、阿根廷、土耳其、以色列及其他等國職業球隊效力的經歷。
Over the last decade, over 200 international players have participated in the CBA.
在過去的20多年里，有超過200位外籍球員在CBA中效過力。
As of right now, the CBA has grown to be the No.1 basketball league in Asia, and some believe, within ten years, China will become one of the top four basketball powers in the world.
目前，CBA已成為亞洲最有影響力的職業籃球聯賽。美國前國家隊主教練邁克·克萊澤維奇（Mike Kryzewski）甚至曾大膽預測，認為中國未來能成為全球籃球水平最高的四個國家之一。
（作者厲振羽，系國際主流媒體雙語體育專欄作家、中國日報網特約專欄作家）
來源：人民網
