A Qualitative Study Exploring the Migratory Push-Pull Factors of American Basketball Players Playing in the Chinese Basketball Association

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(1)A Qualitative Study Exploring the Migratory Push-Pull Factors of American Basketball Players Playing in the Chinese Basketball Association. by Te’Qin Hing Windham. A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Major: International Human Resource Development. Advisor: C. Rosa Yeh, Ph.D.. National Taiwan Normal University Taipei, Taiwan February 2019.

(2) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I would like to give thanks to my Lord for providing me with such an unbelievable journey, guiding and protecting me along my path in this life. Dr. Yeh, I appreciate who you are as a professor and mentor during my time in IHRD. Thank you for your availability, attention to detail, guidance, and for always asking me the “hard questions” that cause me to look deeper in the topic. Thank you to my circle of friends here in Taiwan for always keeping a smile on my face, love in my heart, and encouragement to keep exploring. Thanks for opening your arms to always give me a hug. To my friends back in the States, thank you for all your love and support, for the many FaceTime chats and text messages that kept me grounded. Finally and most importantly, my family, Mom, Dad, and Joi (and my other siblings). Thank you for always being by my side, even while I’m on the other side of the world. I always feel loved and supported and appreciate everything you all have done to help me along this journey. Thank you to my large support system back home, extended family, “second mothers and fathers,” and everyone that followed me along for this adventure. This is one for the books!. “Do not be afraid of going slowly; only be afraid of stopping.”.

(3) ABSTRACT This qualitative study examined and analyzed the migration factors that influenced professional American basketball players to move and compete in China, specifically the push-pull factors that contributed to their migration to the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). Although basketball is a well-studied and highly popular sport, the CBA is one of the least studied professional leagues in terms of sports migration theory research, yet has a sizable international labor force, especially American basketball players. This study was built upon the theoretical framework of previously researched sports labor migration, which assisted the data analysis process. The sample of this study included ten professional American basketball players who played in the CBA during the 2017-2018 season, many of whom have played in the NBA. This qualitative research used in-person, semi-structured interviews, with questions focused on the push-pull factors, such as the reasons to why they migrated to China and their experiences playing in the CBA. Based on the results of this study, the data uncovered some major trends: firstly, American basketball players leave the U.S. because of lack of playing opportunities, secondly, China has a desirable competition league for American basketball players, along with substantial financial gains, thirdly, the structure of the league, primarily the season length, proved to be a great pull factor for the CBA, and lastly, the CBA still can improve as it considers expanding and adding more teams. Keywords: globalization, sports labor migration, basketball, push-pull factors. I.

(4) TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ........................................................................................... I TABLE OF CONTENTS ....................................................................... II LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................. IV LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................ V CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION………………………………………..1 Background of the Study ................................................................................... 2 Problem Statement ............................................................................................. 3 Purpose of the Study .......................................................................................... 4 Research Questions............................................................................................ 6 Significance of the Study ................................................................................... 6 Definition of Key Terms .................................................................................... 6. CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................. 8 The Background of Basketball .......................................................................... 8 Globalization of Basketball ............................................................................... 9 CBA Background ............................................................................................... 11 CBA Rules for Foreign Players ......................................................................... 12 Challenges of Playing in China ......................................................................... 13 Benefits of Playing in China .............................................................................. 18 Motivation Theory ............................................................................................ 20 Labor Migration Theory .................................................................................... 21 Sports Labor Migration ..................................................................................... 24. CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY ....................................................... 30 Research Framework ......................................................................................... 30 Research Procedures .......................................................................................... 31 Population ......................................................................................................... 32 Sample Profile ................................................................................................... 37 Instruments ........................................................................................................ 38 Data Collection .................................................................................................. 40 Data Analysis ..................................................................................................... 41 II.

(5) CHAPTER IV FINDINGS ................................................................... 45 Personal Push-Pull Factors ............................................................................... 45 Professional Push-Pull Factors ......................................................................... 47 Country Push-Pull Factors ................................................................................ 52. CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS .................... 56 Conclusions ....................................................................................................... 56 Implications ...................................................................................................... 58 Limitations ......................................................................................................... 62 Future Research Suggestions ............................................................................. 63. REFERENCES ....................................................................................... 65 APPENDIX A: CONSENT FORM ..................................................... ..71 APPENDIX B: INTERVIEW QUESTION GUIDE .............................. 74 APPENDIX C: FOREIGN PLAYERS IN THE CBA ........................... 76 APPENDIX D: AMERICAN PLAYERS IN THE CBA ....................... 80 APPENDIX E: OTHER NATIONAL PLAYERS IN THE CBA ........... 83 APPENDIX F: CODING- 1ST ROUND .............................................. ...84 APPENDIX G: CODING- 2ND ROUND ............................................. ...91. III.

(6) LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1. List of Push-Pull Factors ........................................................................... 23 Table 2.2. Factors Which Affect Migration ................................................................ 24 Table 3.1. CBA Composition of Foreign Players (2017-2018 season) ....................... 34 Table 4.1. Personal Push-Pull Factors ......................................................................... 47 Table 4.2. Professional Push-Pull Factors ................................................................... 48. IV.

(7) LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.1. Maslow's hierarchy of needs (1943) ........................................................ 17 Figure 2.2. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (1970) ........................................................ 18 Figure 2.3. Typology of Sports Migration .................................................................. 26 Figure 2.4. A typology of Football Labor Migration. ................................................. 27 Figure 2.5. Typology of QIs’ mobility according to their motivation to migrate ........ 29 Figure 3.1. Research Procedures ................................................................................ 32 Figure 3.2. CBA Composition ..................................................................................... 35 Figure 3.3. Foreign Player Composition ..................................................................... 35 Figure 3.4. American Player in the CBA..................................................................... 36 Figure 3.5. Dual-citizens foreign players in the CBA ................................................. 36 Figure 3.6. Data Collection Procedures ....................................................................... 41 Figure 3.7. Grounded Theory Research....................................................................... 42. V.

(8) CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION International sport labor migration continues to be a driving force for increased competition in the world of modern sports and the sports labor market. Globalization has connected markets across many industries and crosses borders between nations. As a result, the global sports market has greatly benefited from the growth of globalization and has fed international talent into many countries, in terms of labor, talent and competition levels, expanding across country borders for their audience. Basketball as a sport has advanced in its pursuit to market itself around the world and has also benefited from globalization and international sport labor, as markets continue to overlap and compete for the global audience, specifically the United States’ National Basketball Association (hereafter, NBA) which in turn has influenced the development of the Chinese Basketball Association (hereafter, CBA) (Luo, Lai & Huang, 2015). Over the past two decades, the NBA has elevated basketball as an international sports league, creating an international sphere of influence and becoming the most dominating and competitive basketball league in the world, the ultimate sign of athleticism and competition (Maguire, 2004). In the 21st century, more players are converging onto the CBA market, China’s top-tier league, for a chance to compete in a quickly growing market, which has become the next biggest professional basketball league next to the NBA. In the past, most players only considered European leagues as their only other option to play professionally if they did earn a spot on an NBA roster. However, most recently, more basketball players have turned to China as the next best option, following in the steps of famous former NBA players, such as Stephon Marbury, as a way to continue their professional careers. Much of sports labor migration research has centered primary on the migration trends of soccer players and the various leagues and countries in Europe (Maguire & Stead, 1998; Frick, 2009). Maguire, for example, frequently examined migration trend among soccer players through the European Union and created a player typology based on these trends, which is often referenced by other researchers (Maguire & Stead, 1998; Maguire & Pearton, 2000). Additionally, Magee and Sugden (2002) researched international soccer players in England and formulated a player taxonomy, which illustrates experimental measures for sports. 1.

(9) labor migration. Orlowski, Wicker, and Breuer (2016) focused their research on the professional sports coaches in Germany and the likelihood of their migrations. Other studies have focused on relationship between globalization and immigration of female soccer players (Botelho & Agergaard, 2011). Other studies have addressed sports migration patterns and the demographics behind them, such as for soccer (Borges, Rosado, Oliveira, & Freitas, 2015) and baseball (Takahashi & Horne, 2006). Much of the past research has highlighted sports such as soccer and baseball, in European counties (Maguire, 2004). However, these studies have been limited to a few select sports in the oversaturated western regions of North America and Europe. Other studies have branched out to other regions, such as Takahashi and Horne (2006) researched Japanese baseball players. They have also introduced the economic factors that influence sport labor migration processes, controlling professional opportunities in foreign countries.. Background of the Study This thesis study focuses on the push factors and pull factors that are involved in foreign players who migrate to China to play professional basketball. The globalization of basketball, how basketball has developed into an international powerhouse sport, can be considered pull factors that draw players to a sports league, along with the opportunity to play overseas and make a decent salary. Basketball has increased its influence over the years, especially with the impact and expansion of the NBA (http://www.nba.com). The NBA has paved the way for intentional influence and created an outreach that has transformed all levels of basketball programs and competitions, shaping how people interact with the game, broadcasting around the world, and implementing school and summer programs. The effect of the NBA has reached China, creating a new network of opportunities for foreign basketball players and developing the CBA at a soaring rate (Huang, 2013). The impact that basketball has had on China and the organization of its competition leagues, specifically the CBA is also feature of the research. The CBA was formed in order to use basketball’s influence to create its own league their own country, to develop their own national players to be more competitive on. an. international. stage.. The. CBA,. 2. being. only. 22. years. old.

(10) (http://www.china.org.cn), is still a toddler at best, in popularity, economic market, organizational structure, and intensity of competition. The CBA is among the top 12 global basketball leagues, but yet, still has room for growth in developing homegrown players and providing an elite level of international competition. This study drives in deeper into the league’s structure and competition environment provided for foreign athletes, applicable external factors that possibly pull foreign players to join the CBA. Foreign basketball players, especially American players, are the focus and the push-pull factors that influence their decisions to play overseas in China. There are many factors that motivate players to pick up and make the big move, for the sake of the game, for another chance to play basketball, push them to play in another country. Many players are impacted by external factors such as hiring opportunities and firing setbacks. In contrast, there are factors from the internal factors that players encounter such as the love for the game and personal goals. We will explore and uncover what motivates players to migrate to China to play in the CBA. The possible implications of this study can assist recruiters, coaches, and teams in their recruitment processes in recruiting foreign players. In addition, can also help them better understand their foreign players, accommodating and helping them in their transitions to China and the CBA. Teams can create a more productive and comfortable living and team environment, keeping foreign players in China longer, for a long term basis, impacting the longevity and commitment of these players, supporting them and their time living overseas as an expat player. These findings can also be applied to other sports and business fields. The teaching profession, as the most saturated fields in China with the most foreign population, can benefit from these results of this research, shedding light on how to recruit and accommodate foreign teachers.. Problem Statement Past research has provided information and context about globalization and sport migration. However, there is little research that describes athlete migration to Asian sports leagues. Most research focuses on soccer migration patterns and the players playing in European leagues. There is a gap in current research and a. 3.

(11) lack of understanding on players moving to Asia, specifically China. This study focused on what push-pull factors contributed to professional basketball players’ choices to move to China, whether they were cultural and exploratory reasons, professional opportunities, or personal factors. This research emphasizes basketball as the sport focal point, because as an American-born sport, it is possible that this context may provide different insights about the sports migration theory that other past research, based on soccer and baseball, may not provide. This research plans to provide more awareness about the draw to China, what type of athlete chooses to move to China and the influencing factors that draw expatriates, to live and work in China; what makes China so attractive to leave one’s home country. Specifically for American players, there may be different factors that pull and push athlete to move to China compared to other foreign players from other countries. In addition, athletes often feel they are only performers and not people, thus this study plans on providing these athletes a stage to voice their opinions and be heard, confront adversities and speak their truths.. Purpose of the Study The purpose of this study is to uncover and explore the push-pull factors that impact sport labor migration and for American athletes to pursue a professional sports career abroad, specifically American players who migrated to China’s CBA league. Although many studies have considered why foreign players have migrated to the NBA, but none have investigated why players have migrated from the U.S. to China. Some have considered it within the framework of globalization and sports labor migration, but none have applied such framework to Asian basketball leagues and sports migration patterns into Asia. One of the goals of this research is to identify the push-pull factors that players consider and motivate their decision-making process for migration. The push-pull factors are ignited by motivators, and this study will identify and investigate these motivators, what drives these American basketball players to migrate to China. Motivation is the preceding influence to a push-pull factors and it is key to understanding the push-pull factors, which in turn lead to a decision or choice. Players’ responses will be categorized into two groups, what pressures. 4.

(12) them to leave their home country (push factors) and what attracts them to China and the CBA (pull factors). Other aspects will be included, such as the personal accounts from athletes, their individual stories, to put a face to sports and labor migration studies, powering to the athletes’ voices. Although this sample would be considered in the “sport stars” category by Carter (2011), they each still have a story to tell, one which can give light to many of the thoughts, ideas, and fears within sport migration studies. By interviewing each athlete and getting detailed personal accounts, the researcher can remove the “filter” that Carter (2011) refers to when criticizing Maguire, and let readers hear the direct voice of each athlete included in this research sample, since their experiences are unique to China. In this research, the athletes will have the microphone to speak their truths and voice their opinions and factual experiences to help them create better experiences for future athletes and their comrades in competitions, to other current foreign players. Through personal interviews, players have the opportunity to voice their honest opinions, in an industry that often sees them only as a commodity to aid in winning a championship, and not so much a person who is navigating a foreign country and alien social landscapes (Magee, 2013; Carter, 2011). This research replaces the personal aspect back into basketball, back into the research. This research aspires to help recruiters in improving their recruitment techniques and approaches for attracting foreign players to China, learning more about what appeals to foreign players and help them transition and adjust to the CBA and the local culture. This research can also unveil ways for teams to better accommodate their foreign players, understanding what players like and don’t like about playing abroad. Coaches, Chinese players, and league front-office management alike can use this research to understand what foreign players encounter while playing basketball in China. By “walking in one’s shoes,” every part of a team organization can improve their methods and treatment of foreign players, helping the player to adjust and play at a better level, which in turns helps the organization achieve their goals.. 5.

(13) Research Questions Based on Everett Lee’s (1966) “Theory of Migration,” the research questions are based on three spheres of influence. Thus, the interview questions and results are organized by personal factors, professional career factors and country, or cultural, factors. In order to explore the push-pull factors that influence foreign basketball players migrate to China, specifically U.S. players, we must ask the following questions: •. What are the personal push-pull factors that influence players’ decision to migrate to China?. •. What are the professional career push-pull factors that influence players’ decision to migrate to China?. •. What are the country push-pull factors that influence players’ decision to migrate to China?. Significance of the Study The following research will have great impact on understanding why foreign talent move overseas, not just in the sports field but can also be useful in the general business field. This research will help practitioners, such as talent recruiters and athletic organizations, comprehend foreign basketball players who play abroad and how to better accommodate and assist them in their transition to China. In the academic field, this research can fill in the gap by shedding light on the globalization of sports in China and the migration push-pull factors that are specific to China. This study will most benefit the players themselves, because collectively, they will be able to help one another and future players that are interested in moving abroad for their professions, especially to China, providing insight to their experiences and what push-pull factors had influenced their decisions to move to China and play in the CBA.. Definition of Key Term "Migration is often analyzed in terms of the push-pull model,” which include push and pull factors. They are defined below. •. Push factors – the factors that drive, or “push,” people to leave their 6.

(14) country in pursuit for a better life and opportunities in another country. This can include economic, social, or political problems that impact a person’s life (Opeskin, Perruchoud, & Redpath-Cross, 2012). •. Pull Factors- the factors that attracts people to a receiving or destination country, the country to which people move. Such factors include job opportunity, safety or refuge from war or natural disaster (Opeskin, et al., 2012).. 7.

(15) CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW Many researchers have delved into the historical development of various international sports leagues and globalization has affected each sport over time, and in various countries. Other research has described the growth and popularity of basketball, the influence the NBA has impacted on different countries, and how the NBA attracts international talent. In this literature review, I will focus specifically on: Firstly, basketball and its growth into an international sport; secondly, the case of the NBA and its influence on the international sports market; and thirdly, the CBA and its influence on basketball and attracting international talent. Then this chapter will conclude with the theoretical research on sports labor migration, globalization of sports and other migration theories.. The Background of Basketball Basketball has grown into such a global sports conglomerate, which is evident in the popularity of the NBA. In the United States, basketball, second to American football, is at the top of sports businesses at every level of competition. Basketball is so popular that the players are idolized, the sport romanticized and the business continuously growing, even past the State borders. Basketball has figured out how to transgress borders, cultures, nationalities and time. Many of the superstars of basketball have become some of the most recognized faces on this planet. Basketball has become such a global phenomenon that anywhere you go in the world, any person you ask will be able to name at least one famous star player. However, in order to fully understand and comprehend the depth and span of today’s basketball environment, we must examine the beginnings and development of the sport over time. So let’s look at the history and major timeline shifts of basketball in the United States and the NBA. In terms of the Olympic games, basketball quickly grew more popular and more competitive over the last century. Basketball, at first, was only a demonstration sport at the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis and the1924 London games (http://www.nba.com). In the 1936 Berlin Olympic games, basketball was added as a medal sport, which was won by the USA team (Zegers, 2017). Team USA has consistently outperformed the rest of the world with dominant performances in Olympic basketball for almost 80 years, winning the gold medals in 15 of 19. 8.

(16) Olympic Games. Women’s basketball entered the Olympic games in 1972 at the Munich games, and the US team has medaled at every game, except one (https://www.olympic.org). The 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, the face of basketball changed with the assembly of the USA “Dream Team,” which included the NBA most famous and elite basketball players of all time, such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Scottie Pippen, Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley and Carl Malone (https://www.olympic.org). With the elimination of restrictions and distinctions between amateur and professional players in 1989, NBA professional player were now able to compete in the FIBA World Championships and the Olympics, thus allowing the most prominent and distinguished American players to play and represent Team USA (http://www.nba.com). Another contributing factor was the fall of the Soviet Union and the splitting of their team into players playing for separate national teams, such as Lithuania and Russia (Zegers, 2017). Olympic basketball is the highest level of basketball and the most competitive in the world. Since its introduction in 1936, basketball has become more global, with more national teams becoming more competitive, learning from one another and hiring international coaches and staff to help develop their players.. Globalization of Basketball “Global sport” is viewed as a thoroughly progressive and liberating phenomenon that opens up the potential for greater human contact, dialogue and friendship. Global sport events such as the 2008 Beijing Olympics and allied promotional campaigns including the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) ‘Celebrate Humanity’ program are said to promote the spread of human rights and democracy, and improve inter-cultural understanding. In contrast to such sentiments, the present structure of global sport can also be seen as symptomatic of. a. new. and. consumer. dominated. phase. of. western. capitalism. (https://www.olympic.org). Global consumer sport imposes its cultural products on vulnerable communities across the global. One consequence of this imposition is the eradication of cultural difference- whether this is a result of Americanization or global capitalism. The west dominates the economic, technological, political. 9.

(17) and knowledge resources and controls the levers of power of global sport. According to Maguire, global sport is thus tied to the opening up of new markets, including that of labor, and the commodification of cultures (Maguire, 2008). As much as cultural globalization can be viewed as unifying and universalizing, it can also be seen as divisive and destructive of the local cultures. The globalization and unification of cultures has sparked anti- movements whose members wish to resist the processes of globalization (Maguire, 2008). Over the past decades, globalization has had a massive impact on sport. This is well illustrated by the example of soccer where an expanding international movement of athletes is changing the landscape of the game. The relationship between globalization and immigration of soccer players has been the focus of many studies that have considered the ways in which globalization has led to migration as well as the players involvement in such processes. Globalization and sports migration has played a major aid in growing past country border, literally and figuratively. This relationship that exist between globalization and immigration of soccer players that Botelho and Agergaard (2011) refer to parallels that of basketball’s global expansion and the influence of the NBA. I believe that with the popularity of the NBA, this has opened the door and provided the opportunity for many foreign players to make a mark on the CBA, to play in this league, because they are former stars in the NBA and are among the most talented players in the world, coming from the American arena of competition, learning the grit, toughness, and competitiveness from American basketball. Global sport is tied to the opening up of new markets, including that of labor, and the commodification of cultures through the importation of foreign players and cultures. Many researchers have delved into the historical development of various international sports leagues and how globalization has affected each sport over time, and in various countries. Other research has described the growth and popularity of basketball, the influence the NBA has impacted on different countries, and how the NBA attracts international talent. Basketball humbly expanded internationally shortly after its founding and its first appearance in the Olympics. The first international basketball games were 10.

(18) played in the 1920s, before officially being added to the Olympics in 1936. Then the first men’s World Championship was played in Argentina in 1950, and the first. women’s. World. Championship. played. in. Chile. in. 1953. (https://www.olympic.org). Since then, basketball has international competitions at youth and professional levels. Every year, FIBA holds an international championship, as well as the Olympics occur every four years. Athletes have the opportunity to play basketball in their national leagues, go abroad and compete in another country’s league or represent their country in the World Championships and Olympics, of course if they are chosen to be on a team.. CBA Background The CBA was created in 1995, and is now the top basketball league in China. Currently, it embodies 20 teams, with each team playing each of the other teams twice, a total of 38 games, during the regular season. For the playoffs, the top six teams automatically advance to the playoffs, while the next four teams play for the remaining two spots in the playoffs. The playoffs is structured in a tournament bracket style of 3 rounds (http://www.niubball.com). Every CBA team, except the Bayi Rockets (the Chinese military-only team), are allowed have two non-Asian foreign players. The bottom-ranked five teams from the previous season are each permitted to sign a third Asian foreign player. The Asian foreign player must hold a valid passport from a registered FIBA. Asia. country. and. cannot. have. dual. citizenship. (http://www.niubball.com).The distinction between country of origin, citizenship, and the definition of a foreign player are critical in recruiting and competition. The term “Non-Asian" countries refer to all North American, South American, European, and Australian continental counties, but does not include African countries, in reference to a foreign player. For the third Asian player, he can come from any countries included in continental Asia and Africa. One major note is the fact that players from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau are considered Chinese local players, not foreign players (https://basketball.realgm.com). Refer to Appendix C for a list of all foreign players who are currently in the CBA for the 2017-18 season. The CBA is the only basketball league that enforces restrictions on the number of foreign players allowed on a team, the first of its kind in any 11.

(19) international professional basketball league. The implications this has on a team structure controls the number of player opportunities for foreign players in the CBA. The number of foreign players in the league could increase only if the number of teams also were to increase, however, the likelihood for an increase of foreign players per team is low.. CBA Rules for Foreign Players There are strict playing rules for teams that have foreign players. The first rule is that non-Asian foreign players are allowed to play a combined six quarters per game. For instance, if Player A and Player B can each play three quarters, or Player A can play two quarters while Player B plays in all four quarters (http://www.niubball.com). Asian imports are under no playing time restrictions. One exception to this rule is when a team is playing against the Bayi Rockets (who have no foreign players), that team can only play their non-Asian foreign players for a total of five quarters and only one non-Asian foreign player can play in the fourth quarter, including Asian foreign players (http://www.niubball.com). The CBA is consider to be more of a “scorers’ league,” which means that scoring is more important part of the league and the teams place more value on players who can score the most, which is great for international players. Many international players become the “go-to” guy on their teams, the one who can and will score the points. The CBA is also a physical league because the rules are more lenient and not strictly enforced compared to the NBA. This league aims to please the fans and can be compared more to American street ball (friendly, nonprofessional competitions between local teams), as the structure and rules are not as stringent and careful as those in the NBA. Although foreign players have a limited number of minutes and quarters they can play each game, players have ample opportunity to score and perform as they like. The freedom players may have to shine offensively can be a pull factor for some American players to come to China. Being one of 2, sometimes of 3, foreigners on a team, he will have plenty of time on the court and control of the ball. The implications of a limit on the number of foreign players per a team and the amount of time each player can play limits the opportunities afforded foreign. 12.

(20) players in the CBA. For some, this could deter players from going to the CBA, and for others, they may disregard this. In terms of the league as a whole, it can imply that the league wants to keep the league focused on the Chinese players, and not be overwhelmed with foreign players, as most of then are better basketball players than most of the Chinese players. Frick’s (2009) research concludes, “perhaps surprisingly, the decreasing playing time that is now available to ``local players'' has not yet resulted in an increasing competitive balance of the national teams of countries importing players and those exporting players” (p. 88). In contrast, international players are seen as benefiting everyone involved on the team as Agergaard’s (2017) research hinted that coaches’ perceptions have changed from “considering migrant athletes as barriers to domestic talent to migrant athletes becoming useful for enhancing local and national talent development.”. Challenges of Playing in China Many foreign players face various challenges while playing overseas, specifically in China, which is culturally and socially different than most Western countries. Many American players who stay in China face many challenges, such as “cultural differences, language barrier, food, separation from friends and family” and career stability and future plans. Hsu (2014) lists that some American players deal with professional issues, such as: “fallout with team/owner, incompatibility with the Chinese lifestyle, signing with the highest bidder elsewhere, and so on.” According to Lam (2014), the CBA has numerous local, Chinese elements. Many teams are located in small, unknown cities throughout the vast Mainland. So, traveling and finding comfortable accommodations can sometimes be difficult on the foreign players. One of the biggest criticisms of the CBA is the terrible refereeing, because the referees tend to be both incompetent and show preferential treatment for the home teams (Lam, 2014). Another challenging aspect of living abroad is the ability to navigate and balance life between the host country and one’s home. Schinke (2013) identified two major themes of acculturation through his focus group interviews: (a) Navigating two world views which referred to acculturation as a fluid process where athletes navigated between cultural norms of the home. 13.

(21) community and the host community, and (b) Acculturation loads, which referred to whether immigrants and those in the host country shared acculturation (i.e., acculturation as a two-way process) or managed the load with or without support from others (i.e., acculturation as one-directional). (Schinke, 2013) In addition to professional and cultural obstacles, many migrant athletes like to stay connected with family and friends back home. However, there are some players that like to get away from home and have his own personal space, detaching himself from the circumstances he left in his home country. Sometimes, this can be a push factor that motivates some athletes to leave their home country to get away from non-ideal circumstances, in search for a clean start. For some elite athletes, they want to go to another country for a place that provides a safe space for him to focus on his sport and develop his skills, while other may enjoy a simpler life away from the fame and mania of celebrity life. In contrast, some athletes are forced out of their country and their only option to continue to play basketball may be to go to another country, because they do not have any viable options in their home country. Later in this research, various typologies and theories of sports migration that are currently available in literature in other sections of this chapter will further be described. Although such challenges exist while playing in China, the CBA still draws in many foreign players to come play and any thrive in the Chinese basketball league, offering many benefits for foreign players.. Benefits of Playing in China As a great overseas option for many American basketball players, the CBA displays great potential and opportunity, including career development, cultural exploration and financial gains that pull foreign players to China. Over the last decade the salary and living accommodations have greatly improved, which has drawn more American talent to the CBA. Many team owners now operate independently, meaning they are willing to invest more money for foreign talent, with many yearly salaries in the $1 million (USD) range. In 2010, Steve Francis and Stephon Marbury each signed the first million dollar contracts, thus forever. 14.

(22) changing the landscape of basketball in China, illustrating the financial benefits. According to Lam (2014), “the CBA has become NBA’s backyard” referring to how the CBA can compete with the NBA in opportunity and contract benefits. While the United States has the most developed and competitive national basketball league and players in the world, Lam notes that China is “the biggest market in the world with over 300 million people who said they play or watch basketball in a population of 1.3 billion” (Lam, 2014). This number will continue to increase as more notable NBA players are attracted to the CBA and with the NBA expanding and bringing NBA games to China, and foreign basketball coaches implementing training camps for youth athletes to schools and privately. China’s market size and yearly growth is currently greater than any other country and goes beyond its borders unlike any other. The CBA is positioning itself to laboring to become the premier international basketball league (Lam, 2014), especially with former NBA star, Yao Ming, installed as the new Commissioner in 2017. Ming proposes to bring NBA-style of organization and competition to China and develop and indoctrinate the Chinese owners and management, with the goal of becoming a bigger enterprise than the NBA itself. China is the only league in modern-time with such great momentum, with exponential growth in the 21st century, which is of great benefit to owners and players alike. Foreign players, especially those who have played in the NBA, have the ability to be the “big fish in the little pond” with the CBA, instead of being a bench player on an NBA team, a “small fish in the big pond.” Similar to the Japanese baseball players who play in the American baseball league, Major League Baseball (MLB), American basketball players are able to bring profits to both China and US (Takahashi & Horne, 2006). They are able to bring their stardom, ability, and fans to China, to people who may already be familiar with them and their time in the NBA. Because so many people in China are more familiar with and excited about the NBA, many teams want a former NBA player on their team to bring some of their fans to watch CBA, and bring some of the money that comes along with that. As a results, owners are more than willing to pay more for such benefits and financial gains that a former NBA player brings, more fans, more ticket sales, and more TV airtime and contracts, and more endorsements. In the 21st century, China’s sports market embodies growth and wealth, 15.

(23) with leagues looking for new ways to generate new business. With the determination and development of the CBA, there is great potential for foreign players to also benefit, which are more pull factors for foreign players.. Motivation Theory In order to understand how migration theory can impact and be factored into an American player’s choice to migrate, it is important to first point out the theories behind motivations and migration motivational theories. According to the Oxford Dictionary, Motivation is defined as “a reason or reasons for acting or behaving in a particular way” (https://en.oxforddictionaries.com). Motivational theory has been thoroughly investigated and researched, with some focused on the factors that influenced players prior to migration for their sports career (Agergaard, 2008; Maguire, 2008) and factors that had an impact after migration (Stead & Maguire, 2000), and the factors that influenced students to migrate for their educational careers (Li and Bray, 2007). Motivation focuses on the factors that influence people to act, or in the case of this research, the common factors that cause players to migrate to another country for their professional basketball career. Motivation is a fundamental part of people’s behavior and decision-making process. Motivation of decisions is a part of the foundation for push-pull factors, the more basic idea of why people do things, what drives people to migrate and as related to this study, what drives professional American basketball players to migrate to China. Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs” highlights and categorizes the different types, or levels, of needs that motivate people. According to McLeod (2007), Maslow’s work stated that people are “motivated to achieve certain needs,” and when a particular need is fulfilled or met, “a person seeks to fulfill the next one, and so on” (p. 2). Each person has the desire to fulfill needs and will be motivated to fulfill a level of needs, and once accomplished, move onto the next level of needs. The original “Hierarchy of Needs” categorized the needs into five tiers of “motivational needs”, including physiological, safety, social, esteem and selfactualization (McLeod, 2007). Looking at Figure 2.3 below, physiological needs are the lowest and most basic of needs, while self-actualization is at the top of the pyramid, signifying that it is the more abstract and growth-based of needs. The. 16.

(24) basic needs include physiological needs (food, water, warmth, rest) and safety needs (security and safety). The next two tiers are grouped into psychological needs, which include belongingness and love needs (intimate relationships and friendships) and esteem needs (prestige and feeling of accomplishment). At the top. of the pyramid is self-fulfillment needs, otherwise categorized as self-. actualization needs, which are achieving one’s full potential. Once a lower level of needs is fulfilled, then a person’s needs will move up to a higher tier and that person will work towards satisfying the new level of needs. The deficiency of a need is said to motivate people and the need to fulfill them will grow stronger the longer they go unmet (McLeod, 2007).. Figure 2.1. Maslow's hierarchy of needs (1943). Adapted from McLeod, S. A. (2018). Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html. Maslow later added more tiers to the original “Hierarchy of Needs” pyramid and expanded on the previous ideas of motivation and needs. In 1970, Maslow added “aesthetic needs,” “cognitive needs,” and “transcendence needs” to the upper echelon of the pyramid, as seen in Figure 2.4. McLeod (2007) defines. 17.

(25) the need for knowledge and meaning as “cognitive needs,” aesthetic needs are the search and appreciation for beauty, balance and form, and transcendence needs are the need to help other people achieve a state of self-actualization. While there are personal needs people hope to fulfill in their lives, people also have the desire to have fulfillment in the workplace, which should motivate employees at work.. Figure 2.2. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (1970). Adapted from Ventegodt, S., Merrick, J., & Andersen, N. J. (2003). Quality of life theory III. Maslow revisited. The Scientific World Journal, 3, p. 1050-1057. doi: 10.1100/tsw.2003.84. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Maslowshierarchy-of-needs_fig1_228709490. According to Venter and Venter (2010), once a person reaches the selftranscendence level of needs, they are able to see the world on a global scale, thinking beyond self. These people are able to look at their purpose and the effects of their actions globally and interconnected with everyone around them, from a selfless point of view. International migration and modern communication technology are two factors have assisted people in reaching the selftranscendence level of the hierarchy, both have led to people redefining their roles 18.

(26) in the world and their view of the world around them, and the effects their actions have on this world, a level that is reflective of Maslow’s definition of selftranscendence (Venter & Venter, 2010). While Maslow focused on theories based on human needs and people’s drive to fulfill them, Psychologist Frederick Herzberg created a theory based on job factors that motivate and inspire people in the workplace. According to Gawel (1997), Herzberg created a model that grouped motivating factors at work into two groups, factors that affected employees’ attitudes.. The first group is called. “hygiene” factors, which are factors that contribute to job satisfaction but do not motivate employees. These factors complement the job by creating the work environment but do not actually generate satisfactions. Hygiene factors include international relationships, work conditions, salary, company policy and supervisions (Gawel, 1997). The second group of factors is called “motivators,” which are factors associated with employee motivation and employee job satisfaction. Herzberg identified five factors that help determine job satisfaction, which are “achievement, recognition, the work itself, responsibility, and advancement” (Gawel, 1997). In term of effect on employee production and attitude, the motivators had a long, lasting effect in job performance, while the hygiene factors only had a short-term effect. Many people will move and go to a job or another country to find a job that will satisfy their needs, whether it is personally or professionally motivated. Whether they are motivators or hygiene factors according to the Herberg model, they are factors that influence players to migrate to another country in pursuit of something better than what their home country has to offer. In terms of education and motivation to migrate, Li and Bray (2007) researched the motivating factors that lead mainland Chinese students to migrate to Hong Kong and Macau, factors that varied in importance based on the destination city. According to Li and Bray’s (2007) study on international student mobility, Chinese students who migrated to Hong Kong were primarily motivated by academics, followed by social, cultural, and economic factors, respectively. Conversely, Chinese students who migrated to Macau were primarily motivated by economic, followed by social, cultural, and academic, respectively. Maguire and Stead studied the migration of Nordic/Scandinavian players who migrated to play soccer in England. Their research uncovered that “players’ 19.

(27) decision making is influenced by questions about motivation, choice of destination, level of preparedness, and impact on personal relationships” (Maguire & Stead, 2000, p. 43). They raised the following questions about motivation for migration: 1) if the player view their migration as mainly a developmental phase, 2) if international migration is a necessary step, and 3) if the migration is primarily fueled by financial means. The result of their research showed that players were motivated to migrate because of these four factors: pursuit for greater career experience, financial incentive and security, preparation for international migration, and players choosing to migrate after receiving family support (Stead & Maguire, 2000). Through researching women handball players who migrated to Danish leagues, Agergaard explored the athletes’ motives for migration and their experiences in the Danish league. She uncovered that many players were motivated by similar factors as described by Maguire’s typology (Maguire, 2008), discussed below in Sports Migration Theory section. However, her research categorized two methods that the teams used to integrate the players into their teams, professionally and culturally, which as a result affected the migrants motives and experiences in the host country (Agergaard, 2008). Agergaard (2008) noted that the player motives and the team organization intentions sometimes differed and collided, such as players not having an interest in the host country’s culture but expected to integrate into their team and get along with their teammates. The motivation behind a player’s choice to migrate is usually influenced by external circumstances, often fitting into one of two categories, “push factors” or “pull factors” and internal and intrinsic motivation provided by the fact that people have a natural desire to satisfy needs, according to Maslow (1943). Migration based on labor is influenced and fueled by the desire of the immigrant wanting to find a better job option, because the host country can provide an opportunity that their home country is lacking. This study plans to discover what motivation is behind American basketball players’ decision to migrate for the purpose of their professional basketball careers.. 20.

(28) Labor Migration Theory In order to understand and investigate the research questions above, we need to acknowledge the research conducted within major migration theory, and how motivating factors influence people to migrate in consideration of their careers. There are two major theoretical frameworks, which will contribute to this research: 1-literature on international sports migration theory and player typology, and 2- the globalization of sports (which plays a role in sport migration), most of which is based on soccer players who migrate to European countries. The Oxford Dictionary (2017) defines the general term “migration” as the act of moving; and for animals, they move for seasonal or food purposes. However, for humans, migration involves more than natural, seasonal patterns; it has evolved beyond that, movement for natural, social, economical, and political reasons. Migration is the movement of people to a new area seeking beneficial opportunities and circumstances, whether it is work, solace from a natural disaster or war, or a unique home and opportunity. In contrast, Britannica (2017) defined human migration as a more permanent move, such as in labor migration. Whether people move temporarily or permanently, they move for a specific purpose, not just an aimless wondering or travel. Labor migration is a form of human migration, which people change residence for the purpose of finding work and better work opportunities. Labor migration has become a more prevalent topic of the 21st century since the world is becoming more connected with technology, and many industries are globalizing and rely on resources from other countries. According to Ryder (2017) of the International Labour Organization, migrant workers “make significant and essential contributions to the economic, social and cultural development of their host countries and their communities back home, but too often these contributions go unrecognized” (Ryder, 2017). The factors that impact migration usually belong to one of two groups, push factors and pull factors. Push factors are the circumstances that “push” or forces a person for their home country, or the donor country. Pull factors are the elements that attract and “pull” a person to the receiving or host country. In addition, there are “drivers” that play a role in the migration process. “Drivers” are defined as facilitators or constrainers of individual agency. “Drivers” are the more. 21.

(29) external material forces that influence mobility (Van Hear, Bakewell, & Long, 2017). Van Hear, Bakewell and Long (2017) developed the “push-pull plus” framework in order to interpret the migration flows better. The analysis in their research made a distinction “between predisposing, proximate, precipitating and mediating drivers [and the] combinations of such drivers shape the conditions, circumstances and environment within which people choose to move or stay put, or have that decision thrust upon them” (Van Hear, Bakewell, & Long, 2017). “Drivers” are important to the migration theory because it creates the framework and context in which migrants make their decision to migrant or not; context is important in defining and clarifying what migration is. In addition, there are external forces that migrants manage during the migration process, “aspirations” and “desires,” which Carling and Collins (2017) have explored their roles in the migration methodology. According to Carling and Collins (2017, p. 8), “an ‘aspiration’ to migrate reflects the transformative potential of migration and implies that this imagined transformation is not only viewed positively by the prospective migrant, but is also institutionally embedded” (Carling and Collins, 2017). On the other hand, “[desires index] not only these cognitive dimensions, but also foregrounds embodied, affective and material components of becoming and its relation to migration possibilities and enactments” (Papadopoulos & Tsianos, 2007). “Drivers,” “aspirations,” and “desires” all have their role in labor migration theory, internal and external factors that are conducive to a migrant moving to a new country, which is applicable and relevant to sports labor migration. De Jong (2000) claimed that “expectations - the process of evaluating the chances for future attainment of valued goals in the home community (stay decision) vs. alternative locations (move decision) - along with family norms about migration are major predictors of intention to move, which in turn is a proximate determinant of migration behavior.” These exceptions also connect another lens to the framework of migration theory, which can influences a person’s decision to migrate. Lee (1966) identified four types of factors that are a part of the migration decision process and the actual migration process. The four types of migration factors include (1) those related to one’s home country, (2) those related to the receiving country, (3) Intervening obstacles and (4) personal factors (Lee, 1966). 22.

(30) In addition, many researchers have summarized possible push and pull factors based on Lee’s works. Below in Table 2.1 is a complied list of these push-pull factors. Table 2.1. List of Push-Pull Factors Push Factors Not enough jobs Few opportunities Inadequate conditions. Pull Factors Job opportunities Better living conditions The feeling of having more political or religious freedom Enjoyment Education Better medical care Attractive climates Security Family links Industry Better chances of marrying. Desertification Famine or drought Political fear or persecution Slavery or forced labor Poor medical care Loss of wealth Natural disasters Death threats Desire for more political or religious freedom Pollution Poor housing Landlord/tenant issues Bullying Mentality Discrimination Poor chances of marrying Condemned housing (radon gas, etc.) War Note: Wikipedia, 2017b Wikipedia (2017b). Human migration. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_migration#cite_note-20. Adopted from Lee, E. S. (1966). A theory of migration. Demography, 3(1), 47-57. doi: 10.2307/2060063 Push factors are generally present in donor countries, and pull factors pertain to receiving countries. Both forces must be operating for migration to occur. In addition, facilitating forces must be present as well, such as the absence of legal or other constraints that impede migration. According to Mejia, Pizurki, and Royston (1979), migration is the result of the interplay of various forces at both ends of the migratory axis. Some of these forces are political, social, economic, legal, historical, cultural, and educational. The authors classified the. 23.

(31) forces as “push” and “pull” factors. Migration factors can also be categorized in other ways, such as economic and non-economic factions, as written by Martin and Zurcher (2008). They conclude that people choose to migrate based on economic and non-economics factors. In contrast, Parkin (2010) used Martin and Zurcher’s two groups to divided migrations factors into three categories for her study, which are Demand-pull, Supply-push, network/other, shown below in Table 2.2. The migration factors in Kainth’s study on migration of the Brick Kiln Industry in the Middle East were divided into the following groups: demographic, socio-cultural, political, and miscellaneous factors (Kainth, 2009, pp. 86).. Table 2.2. Factors Which Affect Migration Type of Migrant. Demand-Pull. Supply-Push. Network/Other. Economic. Labour Recruitment. Unemployment or underemployment issues such as low wages. Jobs and wage information flow. Non-Economic. Family Unification (husbands and wives join spouses, children join parents). Fleeing war and/or civil unrest. Communications; transportation; assistance; organizations; desire for new experience. Note:. Parkins, N. C. (2010). Push and pull factors of migration. American Review of Political Economy, 8(2), 6-24. Original source: Martin, P. & Zurcher, G. (2008). Managing migration: The global challenge. Copyright ©2011 by the American Review of Political Economy.. Sports Labor Migration Many researchers have been responsible and contributed to sports labor migration theories, exploring the geographical landscape, historical references and. 24.

(32) sociological aspects. Remarkable efforts have been applied to understanding the patterns specific to sports migration, revealing the rationale and purpose of such movements. Comprehending and documenting the significance this type of migration has for those involved is a major component to sports migration theory (Maguire, 2008). The most notable of researchers in sports labor migration, Maguire, has laid the foundation of sports labor migration theory. Maguire, Jarvie, Bradley, and Mansfield (2002, p. 26) said, “Labor migration is an established feature of the sporting ‘global village’.” This migration centrally involves athletes but coaches, officials, administrators and sport scientists also involved in this village, attracting foreigners for all such professions. This movement of workers occurs both within and amongst nations on a worldwide scale, and the frequency of which is gradually growing in frequency and in the amount of migrants (Maguire, 2008). In order to answer the research questions, understanding Maguire’s typology of sports migrations and the characteristics of each type of athlete is imperative to this research; this taxonomy of the migration patterns into China’s premier basketball league, the CBA will be applied. Shown in Figure 2.3, Maguire’s (2008) typology of sports migrations identifies five types of athletes that migrate to another country for sports: pioneers, settlers, returnees, mercenaries, and nomadic cosmopolitans. Below in Figure 2.3, one can see that each classification can share traits but mostly are different. The “pioneer” is the one who wants to promote their sport and spread the love for the sport to others. The “ settlers” are those who move for a more permanent reason and settle in the foreign country in which they play. The “mercenaries” are the players who pursue the lucrative incentives and benefits. There are migrants who are “nomadic” in terms interacting and engaging with their local environment. They take advantage of the opportunity to travel and explore foreign cultures. The last type of migrant is the “returnee” who migrates while knowing this is only a temporary situation and plans to return to their native country. Foreign players migrate for various reasons, and many push and pull factors influence their decision to migrate for their sport. Through personal interviews, Maguire’s typology and how it applies to foreign basketball players in China can be better understood in relations to basketball. This typology is the foundation for much of current sport labor migration theory and research. 25.

(33) Figure 2.3. Typology of Sports Migration. Adapted from Maguire, J., 2008. ‘Real politic’ or ‘ethically based’: Sport, globalization, migration and nation-state policies. Sport in Society, 11(4), p. 448. Copyright 2008 by Sport in Society: Cultures, Commerce, Media, Politics. As a result of extensive research, different taxonomies for immigrant sports players have developed and evolved over time, categorizing migrant athletes based of their purpose and motives for migration. Hsu (2014), in latent terms, describes only two types of players, the “residents” and the “tourists.” He defines the resident player is one who plans to stay overseas for a long-term, for the foreseeable future, while the tourist player is only there temporarily (Hsu, 2014). The resident players found a second chance at continuing their careers and have become more of a permanent resident in their new country. The tourists are ones who desire to return to the NBA or their home country to continue to play there, only in the new country temporarily. Some of these players may be playing overseas during the off-season of their primary league, or playing while they are out of their primary league’s contract (Hsu, 2014), or working to return to the NBA for a second shot and using this opportunity to demonstrate their skills and boost their player value. In the 2008 article, “‘Real politic’ or ‘ethically based’: Sport, globalization, migration and nation-state policies,” Maguire (2008) identified five types of migrant players with several motives “involved in the recruitment and 26.

(34) travel choices of the migrant.” Maguire’s (2008) typology has laid the foundation for researchers in this field, creating a taxonomy that clearly and fully describes the types of sports migrants. Although most of the typologies are developed based on soccer players, they can be applied to basketball players, with some possible adjustments. Similar to Agergaard and Botelho’s (2011) research on female soccer players in Scandinavian countries, the relationship between globalization and the immigration will be explored in this study, but within the framework of basketball players migrating into the Chinese Basketball Association. In addition, how globalization has led to such migration as well as the players’ involvement in these processes will be explored in this study. Lee and Brownlee (2017) research focused on the Chinese Super Leagues and how the migration to this league has created a new trend in sports labor migration through published news articles on the sports in China. The results of their study revealed a majority of these newspapers highlighted a “mercenary” dimension of labor migration, often combined with an “ambitionist” dimension, which is based on Maguire’s typology. Another typology is Magee and Sugden’s typology, which includes six player types, as seen below in Figure 2.4.. Figure 2.4. A Typology of Football Labor Migration. Adapted from Parkins, N. C. (2010). Push and pull Factors of migration. American 27.

(35) Review of Political Economy, 8(2), 6-24. Copyright ©2011 by the American Review of Political Economy. In more recent times, migration is seen as a temporary step in a career, especially now with globalization and international expansion of companies. With the increase global intertwining of companies and countries, migration has also increased and technology and transportation has made it easier for people to move across borders. Tsuda (1999) said that with the ease of communication and staying in contact with home and the ability to travel back home, migrants are only migrating on a semi-permanent or temporary basis. Migrants are more willing to more to another country or able to migrate under low pressures, or even so not out of necessity. Tsuda also said that “[b]ecause the ‘threshold of migration’- the point at which economic, political, and social pressures become sufficient to cause individuals to migrate- has been lowered it has become easier to convince people to leave their home countries.” He defines this is return migration,” in which many of the people who moved abroad are returning to their home countries, which as become more common in modern times, compared to a century ago, when migration was a permanent move to a new country, because of isolation and jobs in the host country. Cerdin, Diné, and Brewster (2014) explored how migration decisions were made and factors motivated people’s choices to migrate along with looking into their choices to integrate into the host country. They identified qualified immigrants (QIs) as university graduates or individuals who migrated on a permanent basis to another country for work, which the results of his research lead to a typology of four categories of QIs. Below in Figure 2.5, Cerdin, Diné, and Brewster’s. (2014). typology. includes. “felicitous. migration,”. “desperate. migration,” “chance migration,” and “dream migration” (Cerdin, Diné, & Brewster, 2014). At the center of QIs’ decisions to migrate include an array of reason, such as family, cultural factors, international experience, economic problems, political factors, and more. This typology is oriented based on cost and benefit context, with the axis labeled as “gain framing” and “loss framing,” with each type either losing and or gaining something from the home country and host country. The first type is “felicitous migration,” in which the QI was strongly driven away from their home country and strongly attracted to the host country. 28.

(36) This type of QI has a lot to lose but expects great gains in return as he migrates to the host country, a type of migration that seems worthy and beneficial of migration. Second is the “desperate migration,” in which the QI is forced from their home country and also would not want to be in the host country, but doesn’t have any other option. This type of QI fits into the strong loss framing and weak gain framing. Third type of migration is the “chance migration,” which concerns a QI who is situated both in the weak gain framing and weak loss framing in the figure. This type was not particularly motivated to move, but saw the opportunity to migrate and just took the chance, no strong push or pull factors really present in their situations. Lastly, the forth type is “dream migration,” in which the QI was strongly attracted to the host country but had no particular factors that influenced them to leave their home country, with strong gain framing and weak loss framing. For this type of migration, the QI was drawn to migration and had strong feelings about migrating (Cerdin, Diné, & Brewster, 2014). This typology provided by Cerdin, Diné, & Brewster (2014) shows that both factors from the home country, or the push factors, and the factors presented by the host country, or pull factors, play an interactive role in the decisions of migrants, motivating them to move to a new country.. Figure 2.5. Typology of QIs’ mobility according to their motivation to migrate. Adapted from Cerdin, JL., Diné, M. & Brewster, C. J (2014). Qualified immigrants’ success: Exploring the motivation to migrate and to integrate. Journal of. International. Business. Studies,. 45(2),. 151-168.. Retrieved. from:. https://doi.org/10.1057/jibs.2013.45. Copyright © 2013 by the Academy of International Business. 29.

(37) CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY This research implored qualitative measures to explore and understand the push and pull factors that affected American professional basketball players to move to China and to play in the CBA. This chapter describes the design and methodology used for this research, data collection techniques and measurements.. Research Framework The construction of this research is based on qualitative measures, similar to the methods of Botelho and Agergaard’s (2011) study on female soccer players who play in Scandinavian countries. This research used in-depth interviews to ascertain foreign players’ motives to move to China for their basketball careers, their perspectives about their decisions to migrate and how it impacted them. The push-pull factors researched in Botelho and Agergaard’s (2011) study could be different from the players in this study, which is part of the purpose of this study, to understand and reveal the factors involved with migration of American basketball players who move to China. The factors could differ due to differences in sport, gender, location or competition league between samples. by the players The researcher interviewed each player individually, in confidence and under anonymity, in order to see what push and pull factors influenced their migration choices. Conducting personal, face-to-face interviews of each player is the best method for collecting such detailed information, because every player has his own experiences that are unique to him, and he will be able to express and explain them in his own words. Contrary to Maguire (2008), the “media filters” were removed (Carter, 2011) by going directly to the source, the basketball players. Interviews were conducted in person, as it is difficult to quantify such varying experiences and assign proper measurements to weigh and analyze the factors influencing them. Foreign players, specifically American nationals, were the focus group. Their responses were analyzed, grouped on similarities and compared by differences. Based on the push and pull factors for migrating, conclusions were drawn to determine common themes amongst the participants’ responses in order to better understand the types of basketball players who moved to China.. 30.

(38) Research Procedures This qualitative study began with the inquiry into why foreign professional basketball players chose to play basketball in China, which became the research topic of this research. With the exploration of previous research, this research topic became the research questions, spilt into three levels of the main question, as to why the players migrated. Once the research questions were identified, the literature review revealed important theories and possible migration factors that impacted professional players of other sports and their decisions to migrate for their careers. The theories that proved more relevant were various migration theories, sports labor migration theory, and Grounded Theory. After thorough investigation through previous research, the research design was carefully devised and crafted into the following research below. The research sample was identified and narrowed based on specific characteristics that will lend the greatest insight to this endeavor, professional American basketball players (male) that play in the CBA during the 2017-2018 season. In order to conduct the interviews, a questionnaire guide was necessary to obtain the essential data for the research. So an interview guide was created based on previous research and information about the CBA and the background information collected about players in the league.. Then the researcher planned the data. collection process, including player confirmation, travel plans, interview logistics and recording methods. After the interviews were completed, the researcher transcribed each interviews. Consequently, the interview data was analyzed, categorized, and theorized, using the Grounded Theory method, which you will see in Chapters 4. Finally, from the data analysis, the research established conclusions and theories from the data collected. The research procedures are shown below in Figure 3.1.. 31.