Slam Dunk

Even before the jump ball, the basketball game, held at 10:30 p.m. on August 2 in a small village in southwest China was already in the spotlight, with the cameras of live-streamers all lined up and rolling courtside.

It was the final match between teams from the counties of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture in Guizhou Province. There were no superstar players, no advertising, and no tickets. The basketball court in Taipan Village, where the event was hosted, is open to all. Temporary lights were put up to illuminate the grounds for the nighttime battle.

The stands were packed with “over 10,000 people,”