The push and pull factors discovered in this study show what factors were at play when American basketball players chose to move to China, and the experience factors depict what their experiences have been since moving to China. The following are conclusions drawn based on the above data and the participants’ responses.
Conclusions
Based on the interviews and the players’ responses, the results showed that there were more pull factors that motivated the players to migrate to China. Their responses show that these factors positively affected their choices to migrate to China, while also being professionally “pushed” out of the U.S. and/or the NBA. The primary pull factors for these American players for migrating to China, which served as the primary motivations, were financial benefits, continuation of their basketball careers, and for the league’s structure (shorter competition season). Based on Maslow’s
“Hierarchy of Needs,” financial benefits and career continuation would be situated in the upper tiers of the pyramid, specifically in the “esteem needs” tier of the pyramid.
The players have all satisfied the basic needs levels, psychological and safety needs, so they’re looking to satisfy higher levels of needs. Being able to migrate and find ways to continue their professional basketball careers leads the American basketball players to work towards fulfilling their esteem needs, a need for recognition and accomplishing professional goals.
Many of the players mentioned how much they enjoyed the game, or their passion for playing basketball. Most players also stated that they have enjoyed their experience in China thus far. In addition a few players mentioned how they were partially motivated to migrate the cultural experience, which fits into the “nomadic cosmopolitan” category outlined in Maguire’s typology (1999) and Magee and Sugden’s typology (2002).
As for push factors, the one that is most notable is the lack of playing opportunity in the United States or in the NBA, and ones that could a reasonable salary that can compare to an NBA salary. Many of the players in this study mention lack of professional opportunity as a motivation that forced them to look elsewhere, similar to the “exile” and “expelled” migrants in Magee and Sugden’s typology.
According to Love and Kim (2011), the “exile” is a migrant who chooses to leave their home country to play abroad because her voluntarily chooses or forced to leave because of threats personal, professional or other, as described by Magee and Sugden (2002). On the other hand, an “expelled” migrant is simply forced from their home country.
However, what stood out the most in the players’ interviews was every one of the ten players mentioned how short the competition season is the numerous benefits of it. Through thoughtful analysis, considering implication of short basketball season is important to understand. The findings in this explorative study suggest that lucrative contracts and bonuses for foreign players and the shorter season are of greatest benefits for these migrant players, similar to previous research (Botelho &
Agergaard, 2011; Magee and Sugden, 2002; Maguire, 1999). Though the path to China is different for each player, they all agree that a short season in the CBA is beneficial. A short competition season has many benefits for the players, such as being able to spend more time back in the United States with their families, to be able to preserver their bodies and extend their careers, and to be able to promote other personal businesses. The players who have ambitions to play in the NBA in the future believe that they will still have that chance playing in the CBA, because they can really showcase their talents by being the star and leader on their team. They also know that the CBA season ends during the trade period for the NBA, allowing them the chance to sign with an NBA before the NBA season ends. In contrast, if a player were playing in Europe, he would have to wait until the following season to be able to take a shot at the NBA.
In addition to a shorter competition season, many of the players noted positive factors of playing in the CBA and their experiences in the CBA. Factors such as good relationships with their coaches, teammates and personnel within the organization, playing autonomy, team accommodation (translator), style of play, refereeing, league rules can all be considered “hygiene” factors. According to Gawel (1997), “hygiene factors include international relationships, work conditions, salary, company policy and supervisions. In contrast, the “motivators,” based on Gawel’s definition, in identified in this study include the rewards and financial incentives that help motivate players to play harder, such as bonuses for wins and for personal player statistics, like
points per game and rebounds per game. The “motivators” are the factors connected with employee motivation and employee job satisfaction (Gawel,1997).
It is interesting that most of the players (8 out of 10), viewed their migration as only temporary, only until a better opportunity, specifically a chance to play in the NBA, comes along. This correlates to the “returnee” migrant who migrates knowing that their move is only a temporary situation and plans to return to their home country (Maguire, 1999; Love & Kim, 2011). In general migration theory, migration is usually a more permanent move, usually driven more by the push factors of the person’s country of origin. Below are the propositions generated from the research conducted that could be applied in general principle as theory.
Implications
Factors as listed above all have importance on players’ migration decision, as shown in this qualitative study. However, this only partially explains the story. What is most interesting about the interview responses is that all the players remarked about the length of the CBA season. Many players stated that one main factor that influenced their decision to go to China is that the CBA season is the comparatively shorter than all other major professional leagues. CBA’s five to six month season proves to have both a personal and professional benefits. In addition, players are able to have more downtime, more time for their bodies to heal once the season concludes.
The shorter season translates to less wear and tear on their bodies, which some of the older players mentioned. They are able to prolong their careers, and maintain healthier, injury-free bodies to continue playing basketball. Below are discussion topics stemming from the data and conclusions, which produced the following propositions. The propositions are organized by theme, and each theme yields two propositions each, the “a” propositions applying directly to the professional basketball players, while “b” propositions can be applied to a more general population.
Financial Benefits
Salary and other financial incentives play a major role in globalization and sports migration based on the results of this study. Players who migrated for financial gains would be classified as “mercenaries” according to typologies of Magee and Sugden (2002) and Maguire (1999). This type of migrant is motivated by continuing their
professional careers in order to provide for themselves and their family. In terms of motivation, They are hoping to fulfill their financial needs in order to also meet their needs on a few levels of Maslow’s “hierarchy of needs.” By being able to provide financially, they can fulfill their basic needs such as the physiological needs of food and shelter and security needs of having job security (McLeod, 2007; Maslow, 1943).
The starting salary for players in the NBA for any first round draft pick is well over US $1.1 million and as high as US $5.855 million for the number one draft pick for their first contract (https://basketball.realgm.com/international/league/40/Chinese-CBA/players). According to ESPN, the NBA’s highest-paid players, Stephen Curry, LeBron James and Paul Millsap, each received US$30+ million during the 2017-2018 season (ESPN, 2018). Business Insider collected player salary data on numerous professional sport leagues and found that the NBA pays their average player US$6.3 million during the 2016 season.
On the other hand, the CBA players usually do not get paid as much as the NBA, especially the Chinese players. The average salary of foreigners has gradually become more lucrative in recent years to the CBA’s growing popularity and endorsements. American basketball players are averaging about US$500,000 a season, with the top players making up to US$3 million (Player 9, ESPN-B). A salary that is in the median of the NBA goes a lot farther in China, because housing is usually provided by the team for each player, cost of living is cheaper than in the U.S., and their salaries are tax-free, while in the U.S. salaries over $100,000 are taxed about 40% on average (Player 9). The salaries in the CBA for foreign talent is quite more than the local players, but are competitive with those in the NBA, and some players receiving as much as $3 millions dollars in a single season.
Another monetary aspect mentioned were performance-based incentives, bonuses rewarded for great individual and team performances. Some players mentioned that their team would pay them for individual performance statistics (points scored, rebounds, etc.). They also mentioned receiving rewards for each game won, winning streaks, making the playoffs and winning the league championship (Player 6, Player 7). The impact of the incentives proves to be beneficial for both the player and the team. These financial incentives are not meant to fulfill players financial need nor security needs based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, but more so to provide players with recognition and motivation to play harder. This type of
motivation helps players satisfy their need for recognition or the esteem needs to help players feel they have accomplished particular professional goals (Maslow, 1943;
McLeod, 2007).
Proposition 1a: American basketball players will migrate to the place that presents the greatest financial benefit.
Proposition 1b: People migrate for financial reasons, when they have a choice.
CBA Short Season
The CBA’s regular playing season starts in October and concludes at the end of February, followed by the playoffs beginning in March until April. In February, about the time of the NBA All-Star Weekend, the NBA teams are in the trade and negotiation period, which is the prime opportunity to rejoin the NBA. Since the CBA have only 20 teams, 2/3 of the NBA, the season is shorter and they play games more frequently, averaging about 3-4 games each week. Some of the players interviewed for this study stated that they hope to return to the NBA after they are finished with the CBA season. In contrast, the NBA league is about eight months and the European leagues are nine to ten months long, and you would not be able to join an NBA until the following season has started. But for CBA players, they are available not contractually-obligated to any team once the CBA season has ended, so they have the opportunity to get signed by an NBA team in the same season. Another benefit to the CBA’s short season is that the body gets to rest, which in turn can extend a player’s career by years. To quote one player, “the body doesn’t get beat up as much” because they play less games than the NBA, who has 82 regular season games, and the various European leagues, that play for more than nine months. Players who aspire to play in the NBA will have the opportunity to play at the conclusion of the CBA season, instead of waiting until the next season to pursue an NBA opportunity.
Proposition 2a: The structure of the league plays a big role in job options for players.
Proposition 2b: The organizational structure of a company plays a major role in an employee’s choice to migrate.
Playing Style in the CBA
A number of players described the style of play in the CBA as another benefit
and experience factor as a result of their migration. The foreign players stated that they enjoy the tempo of the game, which is fast-paced and aggressive, similar to the NBA, but seemingly opposite of European basketball leagues. Many of the participants talked about how they are the stars of the team, and that gives them some autonomy on the court. As the leader of the team, and many have previously played in the NBA, the foreign players have more experience and advanced basketball skills compared to their Chinese counterparts.
According to player responses, although the competition is not as high and the Chinese players are not as skillful as their competitors in the US and the NBA, they still enjoy playing the game. They’re allowed more freedom from specific player roles and can have more control of the game and more playing time and opportunities.
Players are not completely competing against their teammates and fellow foreigner teammates to be the star player but against themselves and for the league’s championship title.
Proposition 3a: American basketball players will move to a league that provides more playing autonomy and a better playing atmosphere.
Proposition 3b: People will move to a job that provides more autonomy and a better work atmosphere.
Career Benefits
All the players in this study discussed the opportunity to continue playing basketball, and for some, to prolong their career. Some of the players mention not having the opportunity to not play in the US, specifically the NBA, whether it is due to skill level, team fit, injuries, or other. So this forces players to look elsewhere, overseas for playing opportunities, and the players in this research chose China to continue their careers. Many players still play basketball for the “love of the game”
and want to continue doing what they enjoy, even if it takes them far from their home country. The odds to play professionally are quite tough for a player, especially making it to the NBA, but the CBA and other leagues abroad place the odds in the player’s favor, especially if you are American. The CBA provides American players the chance to play and to be the star of their team, something that is less likely in the NBA, unless he is LeBron James or Kobe Bryant.
Although the CBA is not as known worldwide as the NBA, this league is
gaining popularity around China and Asia, becoming the premier league in Asia.
Games are regularly televised and ticket prices are moderately cheap. With bringing American players, especially former NBA players, they bring their fans that follow them as players, bring more eyeballs to watch the CBA games, buying merchandise and tickets. Because of the global popularity of the NBA, which still outperforms the CBA in popularity and viewership in China, many of the American players are well-known before they step foot on a court in China. According to Player 1, the atmosphere of the CBA and games are more to that of the NBA than any other league, with the fast pace of the game, the high scores, well over 100 points per team per game, and the American hip hop and pop music playing in the background and the crowd chanting and cheering after plays.
When American players don’t make it to the NBA or get a spot on an NBA team, players who want to continue their professional basketball career are forced to look elsewhere for a playing opportunity, many of whom look to Europe first. In the most recent years, more and more players are turning to China and the CBA as a viable option to prolong and improve their careers, many of whom hope to return to the U.S. and tryout for NBA teams, using their stats and results from their time in the CBA.
Proposition 4a: Players will go where they can play and can extend the professional career, when a better option is presented to them.
Proposition 4b: People will move to a job in which they can successfully extend their careers, when the option is available.
Limitations
Firstly, there were a few limitations in the data collection process. Due to time and financial constraints, the researcher was only able to interview only 10 American basketball players, though hopes were to interview more. Secondly, there was a distance limitation for the researcher, flying from Taiwan to multiple cities around China to interview the players. Thirdly, there was some difficulty locating players and contacting them, based on each team’s travel schedule, playing schedule, and personal availability. Forth limitation deals with not being able to interview players from other foreign countries and the coaches, to be able to triangulate the American players’
experiences.
In addition to data collection limitations, there are some possible factors that were not explored or accounted for that could have influences a player’s choice to migrate to China. Some factors include marital and family status, for some players did leave their families (spouse and children) in the U.S., while some could have moved their families with them, also any friends or connections with people in China prior to moving.
Lastly, Grounded Theory, in and of itself, presents a few limitations, because the end results are conceptual and theoretical (Omona, Weidel, & Lubega, 2014). Although the Grounded Theory generates theory through systematic data collection and analysis, Glaser (1992) suggests that verification and testing of theory should be left for other to perform. So the resulting propositions were not tested and verified in this study, and cannot be proven true beyond the data already collected to conduct this research. Due to the aforementioned factors, the sample size of the population was limited since all players could not be contacted and interviewed.
Future Research Suggestions
This study focused solely on American professional basketball players that played in the CBA for the 2017-2018 season. So this type of research can be expanded to explore more types of players or positions within the CBA. Future research can also include researching other foreign professional basketball players who come from other countries besides the United States, and compare their migration factors to the American players. Other aspects of a team’s organization and management team could be interviewed, foreigners who may be in management positions, training staff, and coaches. Interview the foreign coaches (coaches that are not local Chinese). The sample used for this study was only a small portion of the total foreign player population of the CBA, which means that there is an opportunity for the research to continue. Also, the women’s professional basketball league in China, WCBA, is an area worth exploring, to see if foreign women basketball players face the migration choice in the same manner and if their experiences are similar to the men. While most of the participants stated that financial benefits and the CBA’s shorter seasons were the major contributing factors to their migration decisions, further field studies about the adjustment period, migration challenges, and more on