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The 30th CBA All-Star Weekend, held in Changchun, Jilin province, from Feb. 28 to March 2, not only celebrated three decades of China's premier basketball

In an interview with Xinhua, Sun Jun, general manager of the Jilin Northeast Tigers and a Chinese basketball legend, expressed optimism about the future of the nation's young players.

Legends from the inaugural 1996 CBA All-Star Game, including iconic players and coaches who shaped Chinese basketball's "Golden Generation", attend a tribute ceremony during halftime of the all-star game at the 2025 CBA All-Star Weekend in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, March 2, 2025. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)

"Hosting the All-Star Weekend reignites passion," Sun, 55, said. "It's not just about thrilling games-it's about making basketball part of daily life and inspiring new generations."

Ahead of the main event, an exhibition game on Feb. 27 featuring China's 1990s "Golden Generation" brought nostalgic cheers from fans. The lineup included stars such as Wang Zhizhi, Mengke Bateer, Gong Xiaobin, Hu Weidong, Liu Yudong, and Sun himself-players who led China to historic quarterfinal finishes at the 1994 FIBA World Championship and the 1996 Olympics.

The matchup, dubbed a "time-traveling showdown" by fans, saw Sun-nicknamed "Tiger King" for his 70-point single-game record in 2000 and three CBA scoring titles-execute signature crossovers and clutch plays, drawing roars from a capacity crowd.

As general manager, Sun has championed grassroots development, notably discovering guard Jiang Weize, who has become a national team fixture despite his 1.81-meter frame.

"Talent like Jiang's isn't always obvious early," Sun said. "Our job is to spot uniqueness and nurture it through opportunity."

Under Sun's leadership, Jilin has integrated youth programs with schools, promoting a "sports-education fusion" to expand pathways for aspiring players.

Now serving as both club general manager and president of the Jilin Basketball Association, Sun remains optimistic about China's basketball future.

"These All-Star events aren't just about nostalgia-they're fuel for tomorrow," he said. "Today's youth have better tools than we did. With patience and the right system, they'll surpass our achievements."