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，中国篮球的发展主要依靠国家资助。然而，尽管发展很快，国家资助体系却难以维系，妨碍了这项运动的进一步发展。因此，中国篮球开启了职业化进程。
In 1995, a Chinese version of the NBA, namely the Chinese Basketball Association, CBA for short, came into play.
1995年，中国版NBA，即中国篮球职业联赛（简称CBA）诞生。
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.
经过多年发展，CBA的水平得到了极大的提高，从中涌现出了多位高水平的篮球运动员，如姚明、王治郅、易建联、巴特尔和孙悦，他们都曾效力于美国NBA的职业球队。
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全明星赛中，最受欢迎的球员既非勒布朗·詹姆斯，也非科比·布莱恩特，而是来自中国的姚明。
Yao retired from basketball on July 20, 2011, leaving behind giant footprints on the basketball court.
姚明于2011年7月20日正式退出篮球舞台，在篮坛上留下了巨人的足迹。
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.
为了提高男篮的国际竞争力水平，过去那些担心球员一旦出国打球就再也不会回国的中国篮球官员们，现在积极鼓励球员们到海外去历练，以获取更多国际大赛的经验。
The CBA not only encourages local exports, but also welcomes foreign imports.
CBA不仅鼓励本国“出口”，同时还欢迎外国“进口”。
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中的职业俱乐部由地方体育协会与地方商业机构一同协调运营。他们由此能够与境外投资者合作，引进国外的球员及教练，且球员们也可以在俱乐部间自由转会。
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·郝吉斯成为第一位在CBA中效力的美国球员。随着CBA职业化运营的不断成熟，很多知名的国际球员相继加入了这个中国的篮球联赛，其中包括昔日的NBA全明星球员斯蒂芬·马布里、史蒂夫·弗朗西斯和肯扬·马丁。
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.
一些外籍球员成为了球队的主力。少部分外籍球员有效力NBA的经历，多数都曾在美国大学中的优秀球队中打过球，并有过一些在欧洲、阿根廷、土耳其、以色列及其他等国职业球队效力的经历。
Over the last decade, over 200 international players have participated in the CBA.
在过去的20多年里，有超过200位外籍球员在CBA中效过力。
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已成为亚洲最有影响力的职业篮球联赛。美国前国家队主教练迈克·克莱泽维奇（Mike Kryzewski）甚至曾大胆预测，认为中国未来能成为全球篮球水平最高的四个国家之一。
（作者厉振羽，系国际主流媒体双语体育专栏作家、中国日报网特约专栏作家）
来源：人民网
