Potential reintroduction of promotion and relegation in the expansion strategies of the Chinese Basketball Association
The Hong Kong Bulls, current champions of China's second-tier basketball league, the National Basketball League (NBL), are eyeing a potential move to the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league, thanks to recent developments in the league's competition structure.
The CBA is planning to expand the mid-season CBA Cup tournament to include teams from the lower divisions, such as the NBL. If the Hong Kong Bulls manage to secure a place in the NBL playoffs this season, they could potentially join the CBA Cup tournament this year.
Leo Sun Xinwei, the general manager of the Hong Kong Bulls, expressed his belief that the team could have the opportunity to participate in the CBA Cup competition. He sees this tournament as a stepping stone for the team to understand the gap between their performance and that of CBA teams, and as a chance to learn and grow.
The CBA Cup tournament participation would provide the Hong Kong Bulls with opportunities to evaluate their performance against top-level teams, offering valuable insights for improvement. The tournament is also expected to include the top teams from lower divisions in the Chinese Basketball Association league system.
While the direct promotion of NBL teams to the CBA is not yet confirmed, the involvement in the CBA Cup could be a stepping stone for understanding the gap between the two leagues and potentially leading to future opportunities. The Chinese Basketball Association is also considering the reintroduction of promotion and relegation in its top-tier league competition, which could pave the way for NBL teams to move up to the CBA in the future.
However, specific details on promotion criteria are not yet available. For now, the Hong Kong Bulls remain focused on their NBL playoffs performance, with the hope that they will secure a place in the CBA Cup tournament and take a significant step towards potential promotion to the CBA league.
The Hong Kong Bulls could potentially participate in the expanded CBA Cup tournament, which is expected to include top teams from lower divisions like the National Basketball League (NBL). If they manage to secure a place in the NBL playoffs this season, they could have the opportunity to play against top-level teams and understand the gap between their performance and that of Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) teams.
