The establisment of this company is a tremendous move for Chinese basketball following more than 20 years of development through the Chinese Basketball Association. But the journey was far from easy and it took a lot of time and hard work to make it happen. 

At the beginning of 2016, the Chinese Professional Basketball Club Co. Ltd was officially established with investment from 18 clubs in the CBA. The company, led by Yao Ming, aimed to force a departure of regulations from the government. Yao initiated the first negotiations with China's basketball association in April, but that didn't go so well as their two proposals were both rejected. 

"Our first proposal was to join the CBA company, which is going to be estalished in the future, under the name Chinese Professional Basketball Club company. Second, we want to get the business rights to the league games," Yao said.

The establisment of this company marks first step in departure from government regulations.

The Association said that only when all 20 CBA teams joined the Basketball Club company would they consider the proposals. But the Shanxi Brave Dragons and Zhejiang Golden Bulls were not on board. Another reason for the rejection was that the Association believed Yao's company had no right to modify the reform plan initiated by the Association. 

"According to the current reform plan, although there will be a CBA League company in the future, it won't bring any fundamental changes to the original management structure," Yao said.

At that time, some media claimed Yao had said he wouldn't join the CBA company, along with other clubs. 

"I want further negotiation with the Association, but right now it seems there are no more concessions we can make," Yao said.

The negotions came to a turning point on April 28th. Yao's company expressed its support for the establishment of the CBA League company. And in September, the first CBA board meeting was held in Jinan which laid a foundation for the company's official establishment earlier this month.