by sportswriter Sun Zhe
URUMQI, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- A summer rain had just fallen over Urumqi when Myron Allen stepped onto a basketball court he had not seen in 18 years. Inside the brightly lit gym, the 47-year-old American guard was doing what he had done countless times before: working with young players and showing them how to attack off the dribble.
The city has changed since Allen first arrived in 2008. But the basketball court feels familiar. So does the work.
Standing 1.8 meters tall, Allen was never the biggest player on the court. During a professional career that took him to countries including Mexico, Venezuela and Australia, he built his reputation on speed and athleticism.
Yet of all the places he has played, Allen says Xinjiang remains the one that feels most like home.
"I don't know why, but in my heart it just felt warm," he said. "Sometimes I go somewhere and just say goodbye. But here, I feel like I'm with family."
A BOLD CHOICE
When Allen arrived in 2008, Xinjiang basketball was still searching for recognition. The roster did not include any member of China's national team, while its best-known player, former NBA champion Mengke Bateer, was already 33.
Allen still remembers how unexpectedly the opportunity came.
"One night at around 10 p.m., I was about to go to sleep when I got a phone call asking if I wanted to come play in China," the American said. "I said yes. I felt like it was a great opportunity to make a change and help the team win."
At the time, signing Allen was something of a gamble. Chinese clubs usually preferred bigger overseas players who could dominate with their size. Allen was different: an undersized guard with explosive athleticism and a fearless style shaped by years of experience.
"I played a lot of physical basketball, so it was very simple for me," he said. "It was easy. I play better when it's physical."
He quickly changed perceptions.
During the 2008-09 season, Allen averaged 22.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 3.4 steals per game, leading Xinjiang to the CBA Finals for the first time in its history. The following season, the team reached the championship series again.
One moment from his CBA debut remains especially clear in his memory. Against the Beijing Ducks, Allen hit a game-tying shot to force overtime and eventually helped Xinjiang secure the victory.
"Even our coach, who was always calm, was kind of nervous," Allen recalled. "I told him, 'Don't worry.' I just made the shot. I will never forget that."
For Allen, Xinjiang was never just another stop in his career. It was a place he felt a responsibility to fight for, even when injuries tested him.
"I told the coach, 'If I'm not broken, I'm going to play. If I'm not going to hurt the team, I'm going to play.'" he said. "I just wanted to give back to the fans because I feel like there is always someone who probably only gets one chance to see me play. So I wanted to give everything."
BACK TO URUMQI
Allen left Xinjiang after the 2009-10 season, but his connection with the team continued. His WeChat profile picture remains a photograph of him dunking in a Xinjiang jersey, and he tried to attend Xinjiang games whenever the team played near where he was living.
When Xinjiang finally won its first CBA championship in 2017, Allen celebrated the team's success from afar.
"I was happy for the people and the fans because I felt like I let us down," Allen said. "I really felt that way because we didn't win it."
This summer, former teammates invited him back to Xinjiang to work with the club's young players. Some of those former teammates are now members of the team's management or coaching staff.
"Honestly, I wanted to come back years ago to help," Allen said. "I saw some good players and wanted to help them improve, and I was very excited, and this was the perfect time."
Returning to Urumqi after nearly two decades, Allen found a city that had changed significantly. A new airport terminal, modern buildings and expanded roads reflected its development since his playing days.
But some things had not changed. The familiar training facility was still there, and the basketball community welcomed him back warmly.
"I have to say, we're family," Allen said. "They are all my brothers."
He also returned to one of his old traditions: eating dumplings. During his playing days, dumplings were his customary meal before Xinjiang games.
News of Allen's return also excited many fans.
A few days ago, a girl stopped him on a street in the city and showed him a photo on her phone. It was a picture of her father with Allen years earlier. Allen smiled and took a new photo with her to give to her father.
"Those types of things, I cherish them," he said. "All the hard work I put into this game, and 18 years later, they still love me."
"You don't always get that. When your team is doing bad, fans don't always love you. But here, they love you when you're doing good and when things are difficult. That gives you a reason to play hard all the time," he said.
NEW MISSIONS
Unlike many foreign players and coaches who live outside the team facility, Allen chose to stay in the team's dormitory.
His reason was simple: he wanted to devote all his time to helping Xinjiang's young players improve.
"I don't want to waste time commuting or doing other things," he said. "I just want to focus on helping the young players improve."
Every night, Allen stays after practice to work with four or five young guards, helping them prepare for the new season. He often joins team training sessions himself, competing alongside the players. That has led some fans to joke that Xinjiang should sign him again as a player.
"It's crazy," he said. "I thought about it because I still play basketball with young guys, I train all the time. I'm still doing everything except dunking."
After Xinjiang endured a disappointing season, Allen hopes to help rebuild the team's winning culture.
"Xinjiang is a winning team," he said. "It's not a losing team."
During his playing career, Allen was known for embracing Xinjiang's demanding training culture. Unlike some overseas players who struggled with strict coaching methods, he enjoyed the intense competition.
"We practiced hard and always played hard against each other," Allen said. "I loved that because if we played hard in practice, it made us better in games."
He wants young players to understand that basketball is about more than scoring.
"As a point guard, you have to contribute. You have to get your teammates involved, make everybody happy, and then you can score."
The jersey is gone, but the commitment remains.
"I hope people remember that I gave everything I had on the court, and now I'm giving everything I have as a coach," Allen said. Enditem
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