United by basketball

Danny Haiphong is an American independent journalist and geopolitical commentator born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1990. His YouTube channel, Geopolitics with Danny Haiphong, has more than 655,000 subscribers and has produced over 1,000 episodes—spanning in-depth interviews and geopolitical analysis—with videos averaging more than 200,000 views each.

Abudushalamu Abudurexiti, born in 1996 in Altay Prefecture, is a professional basketball player and captain of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA)'s Xinjiang Flying Tigers. A two-time CBA regular season Most Valuable Player (MVP) (2018-19 and 2023-24), he has also been named an All-Star multiple times and represented the Chinese men's national team in numerous international competitions. His defining moment came at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta: With China trailing Iran by 16 points in the final, Abudushalamu stepped up, scoring 20 points and grabbing six rebounds in just 23 minutes to lead his team to a dramatic comeback victory and the gold medal. He is one of China's most beloved basketball stars.

These two young men have made their marks in different arenas, yet basketball has brought them together, forging a friendship that transcends borders.

Basketball builds bridges 

Haiphong's channel first attracted attention in China in July 2020, when he interviewed David West, a U.S. basketball star and former power forward known off the court for his intellectual depth and critical thinking. West offered an in-depth analysis of China-U.S. relations, Hong Kong, bias in the American media, and China's poverty alleviation efforts and response to COVID-19. The interview gained little traction in the United States, drawing just 28,000 views in its first month. In China, however, it was shared by major media outlets including China Media Group (CMG), People's Daily and China Daily, and garnered more than 180 million views across Chinese social media platforms.

The interview also introduced Haiphong to a wider audience in China. As his profile grew, he was invited to visit the country on several occasions. A die-hard basketball fan, Haiphong was eager to interview a Chinese basketball player when he returned to China in August 2024. As it happened, the MVP of the recently concluded 2023-24 CBA season was none other than Abudushalamu, and the two met in Urumqi.

After joining Abudushalamu for a warm-up and training session, Haiphong sat down with him for an exclusive interview. Abudushalamu spoke about his upbringing, his love of basketball, the influence that fellow Xinjiang players such as Xiralijan Muhtar had had on his career, and his experience of traveling to the United States to pursue his basketball dream. He also shared stories about the Xinjiang Flying Tigers, a team comprising foreign players and Chinese players from different ethnic groups. The Flying Tigers had reached the CBA Finals that season but ultimately lost to Liaoning. As team captain, Abudushalamu said that his greatest ambition is to help Xinjiang win another championship.

At the time, hit television drama To the Wonder was being aired in China. Born and raised in Altay, Abudushalamu also spoke warmly about the show. He told Haiphong that he was returning to his hometown as soon as the interview wrapped up, and he invited Haiphong to visit Altay. He described Xinjiang's scenery as beyond words and encouraged visitors from around the world to experience the region's natural beauty, local culture, and way of life for themselves.

A friendship that endures 

Back in the United States, Haiphong continued to follow Abudushalamu and the Flying Tigers. When pushing back against allegations about Xinjiang fabricated by anti-China forces, he often cited his own experience: He had visited the region twice, engaged in extensive conversations with local residents, and formed friendships with many of them. He could say with conviction that the claims were simply untrue.

Fast forward to 2026. The Flying Tigers were struggling that season, as coaching changes, poor performances of some players, and frequent injuries to key players all took their toll. Abudushalamu remained the team's most reliable scorer and its heart and soul, but he could not carry the squad alone. While the team was still fighting to keep its playoff hopes alive, Abudushalamu learned that Haiphong would be visiting China again in April. He prepared an autographed jersey for his American friend and recorded a video message for him.

"Hey Danny, long time no see. Do you remember this arena? This is where we first met. I hear you'll be coming to China soon. I hope you'll have time to visit Xinjiang and stop by our club. I'm looking forward to seeing you again! I've got a signed jersey for you—signed by myself—and I really hope I can give it to you in person." The whole thing was kept under wraps as a surprise.

Unfortunately, Abudushalamu was injured in a game that very evening, shortly after recording the video. Haiphong immediately reached out with a message of support.

A week later, in Hangzhou, an eastern Chinese city, Haiphong sat down for an interview with a reporter from the Xinjiang International Communication Center. During the interview, he was presented with Abudushalamu's signed jersey and shown his video message.

"I love basketball. I played basketball as a kid and in high school. I had dreams of playing professionally. But now I've met someone who is doing it. He comes from Xinjiang, he's a Uygur, and he's renowned all across China. He represents, I think, a lot of what we don't really understand in the United States: Uygur people in Xinjiang are doing incredible things in China. They are really blazing a trail to build understanding, and I'm glad to be part of it," Haiphong said.

During the interview with the Xinjiang International Communication Center, Haiphong wished Abudushalamu a speedy recovery and hoped to see him continue to shine on the court. He also said he was eager to return to Xinjiang, noting that the local cuisine, folk traditions, music and dance, and diverse ethnic cultures had captivated him. The world has yet to hear the full story of Xinjiang, he said, and he looked forward to returning to uncover and share more authentic stories from the region.

"It means a whole lot to me. The whole reason why I do what I do is to foster friendship and bonds between people. I'm from the United States, and he lives in Xinjiang. There has been a lot of misunderstanding in the United States about Xinjiang. To be able to meet someone who has accomplished so, so much, and for him to feel that it was worth spending his time with me to help further this cause, as well as simply to spend some time together, is something I deeply cherish," Haiphong said.

"I hope people in the West can understand that Uygurs, Kazaks, and people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have the opportunity not only to play professional basketball, but also to live the lives they want, to live decently, and to have their cultures respected. How to achieve this is really a matter for the people of China, the Chinese Government, and society to work out together. I'm glad I have been able to witness it for myself and see just how much misunderstanding there is, and how much work we can do to promote greater understanding," Haiphong said.