Yao Ming Appointed to Post in New Basketball Company

(Beijing) — NBA Hall of Famer Yao Ming was appointed deputy chairman of a Chinese government-led joint venture with local clubs to manage the country's pro basketball association.

But Yao has not said whether he will accept the post. Five months earlier, Yao said the arrangement would do little to boost the sport.

Li Jinsheng, deputy director of the Basketball Management Center at the General Administration of Sports, which oversees all athletics activities in the country, was appointed chairman of the new venture on Thursday, state broadcaster China Central Television reported. Also at the venture's shareholders meeting, shareholders approved the company's constitution, which gives the state 30 percent control and each of the 20 pro teams a 3.5 percent stake.