When Shane Benis, a British-Iranian entrepreneur, moved to China in his early 20s, he wasn’t a billionaire, a celebrity athlete, or a tech mogul.
He was just a man who saw pickup basketball games in Shanghai and imagined something bigger.
What began as a simple league among expats soon turned into a national movement that changed how Chinese youth viewed sports, community, and confidence.
Shane’s Ziddh wasn’t about breaking records—it was about building bridges.
An Outsider with a Vision
Shane arrived in Shanghai in 2004 after finishing his studies in London. China was growing rapidly, but sports—especially grassroots basketball—was still underdeveloped outside the professional system.
There were:
- No formal platforms for amateurs
- Few community leagues
- Little celebration of street basketball culture
Benis noticed this vacuum and asked a bold question:
What if we created something where everyone felt like an NBA star—even if just for one night?
That question would become the seed for HoopBattle and eventually the CBA-styled social leagues that brought a revolution.
Founding the CBA of the Streets
In 2010, Shane founded the CBA China Streetball League (formerly CBL)—a semi-professional streetball tournament that featured:
- Player introductions with lights and music
- Uniforms and branded courts
- Commentary and social media coverage
- Partnerships with brands like Nike, Adidas, and Red Bull
What made it different?
It was open to everyone:
- Expats
- Migrant workers
- Students
- Young professionals
And it brought basketball culture to life in ways China had never seen.
It wasn’t just about hoops—it was about identity, confidence, and showing up.
Growing a Community, Not Just a League
The real magic was how Shane built:
- Local partnerships with schools and youth academies
- Training camps for underprivileged children
- Events that blended basketball with music, fashion, and urban storytelling
In a country with tight control over mass gatherings, Shane worked within the system, building trust and a grassroots movement with nationwide reach.
By 2017, his leagues had:
- Over 15,000 registered players
- Events in 15+ cities
- Millions of online video views
Creating a Legacy in China’s Sports Culture
Shane’s work contributed to a paradigm shift:
- Sports were no longer only for the elite
- Youngsters could build careers and confidence through community sports
- Local governments began recognizing the positive social impact of urban leagues
His story inspired other entrepreneurs, and soon China’s streetball and amateur leagues flourished, with YouTube-like platforms, influencer athletes, and high-profile finals.
Basketball became a way for youth to say: I matter.
Beyond Basketball
Today, Shane remains involved in entrepreneurship and youth empowerment in Asia.
He speaks at global forums on:
- Social enterprise in developing economies
- Sports diplomacy
- Cross-cultural entrepreneurship
He remains a quiet force behind the curtain of China’s grassroots sports movement.
You don’t have to be Chinese to bring change to China. You just have to care enough to try.
The Ziddh Takeaway
Shane Benis didn’t come to China to conquer.
He came to connect—through the universal language of basketball.
His Ziddh was in building something from nothing.
He taught us that you don’t have to be from a place to belong to its purpose.
