With NBA franchise owners, Yao Ming, and a freshly closed Series A round behind it, the Asian University Basketball League is building something bigger than a tournament.
If you’ve ever wondered what ‘March Madness’ might look like with a pan-Asian twist, the Asian University Basketball League is here to answer that question — and the world’s most powerful names in basketball are betting big on it.
What Is the AUBL?
The Asian University Basketball League (AUBL) is the first regional university basketball league in Asia, bringing together top university basketball programs from China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Mongolia, Hong Kong, and other countries across the continent. It is officially sanctioned by the Asian University Sports Federation (AUSF) and exclusively operated by Asia Campus Basketball Co., Ltd.
The league is led by CEO Jay Li, a Beijing native and international sports executive who began his career at NBA headquarters in New York, later serving as special assistant to Yao Ming at the Chinese Basketball Association.
The vision is straightforward but ambitious: take the electric atmosphere of collegiate sports — the rivalries, the school pride, the underdog moments — and build it at scale across the most populous continent on Earth.
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A Debut That Delivered
The inaugural AUBL tournament made history in Hangzhou, China from August 18–24, 2025, bringing together 12 elite teams and over 150 top university players from six regions across Asia. In a thrilling finale, National Chengchi University claimed the championship title, defeating Tsinghua University 82–79.
The numbers were staggering for a first-year league. Over 30,000 fans attended live, the event generated over 1.55 billion online impressions, 200+ million live broadcast views, and earned coverage from more than 2,000 global media outlets. Half the games were decided by 10 points or fewer — exactly the kind of drama you want to build a fanbase around.
The production matched the ambition. Binjiang Gymnasium in Hangzhou was transformed into a fully digital arena featuring a 400-square-meter LED court system, synchronized lighting, and dynamic on-court graphics — creating Asia's first 3D virtual basketball court with a 270-degree immersive viewing experience.
The Series A: NBA Royalty Meets Asian Basketball
On April 9, 2026, the AUBL announced the closing of its Series A funding round — and the investor lineup reads like a who's who of global basketball power.
The round was led by Blue Pool Capital, the family office of Alibaba co-founder and Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai, building on his seed-round investment from the prior year. Prominent new investors include Avenue Capital Group, led by Marc Lasry, former co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks; Nan Fung Group, a leading Hong Kong-based conglomerate; HSG (formerly Sequoia China), one of Asia's most influential venture-capital firms; Bolt Ventures, the family office of Philadelphia 76ers co-owner David Blitzer; and Yao Ming, global basketball icon and former Chinese Basketball Association president.
The valuation of the league isn't publicly known, but a person familiar with the fundraise characterized it as being at least eight figures.
Perhaps no investment carries more symbolic weight than Yao Ming's. This marks Yao's first investment in an emerging sports league — and it's personal. He has been open about the fact that being rejected by an NCAA college remains one of the regrets of his playing career, making the AUBL a platform he's proud to champion for the next generation of Asian student-athletes.
"The investor lineup featuring three current or former NBA team owners underscores the growing confidence in AUBL's role within the global basketball ecosystem."
What's Next: 2026 and Beyond
The Series A isn't just a vote of confidence — it comes with a concrete roadmap.
The AUBL 2026 Tournament returns to Hangzhou, China on August 2–9 as a standalone event. For the first time, teams from the Philippines and Australia will join squads from Greater China, Japan, Korea, and Mongolia, competing for the second AUBL championship title.
Then comes the big leap: 16 top Asian university teams will make history with AUBL's inaugural home-and-away season, tipping off in late November 2026 and running through early April 2027, with games staged across Asia's most iconic cities.
Off the court, the league is investing in the next generation too. In December 2025, AUBL launched Hoop Scholars, its youth development initiative in Hong Kong, training boys and girls from high school to college level who demonstrate strong academic commitment alongside a passion for basketball.
Why It Matters
College basketball in Asia has long been an untapped cultural force. Universities are among the most recognized institutions in Asian society, and the passion for school pride runs deep. The AUBL is betting — with serious money behind it — that all that energy just needed the right stage.
"Our ambition is not just to run a league; it's to spark a movement that turns Asian university sports into a cultural force. — Jay Li, CEO & Co-Founder, AUBL"
With Yao Ming cheering on Shanghai Jiao Tong, Joe Tsai attending finals in person, and a roster of NBA franchise owners writing checks, that movement looks like it's already well underway.