Carmelo Anthony and China? That bond runs deep. Ever since he lit up the 2008 Beijing Olympics with gold-medal swagger, the ‘Sweet Melon’ has been a fan favorite across the Pacific. The NBA’s connection with China has always been strong—Yao Ming opened that door, and stars like Stephon Marbury and Melo kept it wide open. With the CBA growing and Chinese fans still idolizing NBA legends, it’s no surprise Carmelo’s name still rings out loud. But while Melo remains a giant in Chinese hoops culture, there’s another athlete commanding just as much love for China’s massive fanbase—and no, it’s not a basketball player.

Back in 2011, during the NBA lockout chaos, Melo was eyeing the CBA hard. Business Insider reported both he and Chris Paul were open to heading east for paychecks north of $60K a

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