Such is the sentiment within a nation so determined to top the medal table for the first time that it has spent millions -- perhaps billions -- to target and train a massive pool of athletes, hire expert foreign coaches and build state-of-the-art facilities as part of an astounding athletic machine. The head of the U.S. Olympic Committee said the Chinese in recent years have been training some 260,000 athletes at nearly 2,200 sports schools around the country, a single-minded dedication whose reward will become obvious in the coming weeks. source
With China training 260,000 youths full time as athletes, you have to imagine that a lot of athletic kids will be trained as basketball players. With that kind of dedication from a country of a billion in ten years the Chinese Basketball Association could rival Spain's ACB. Not only will they have a larger pool of locals they might even get the funds to get some international talent. The country will also flex it's will in keeping it's own talent when this happens as well.