Nike has moved to back Chinese basketball, signing an agreement to be the official match-ball sponsor for the next season.

The deal, negotiated by Infront, is one of a number of commitments Nike has in the sport in China, including jersey deals with the men's and women's national teams, as well as youth and junior teams.

"Nike has been supporting the development of basketball in China since 1996 and the sponsorship of the official match ball for CBA League again highlights our continued commitment to the sport," said Willem Haitink, Nike general manager for China. "Our core mission is to provide innovative products to help athletes reach their full performance potential. Therefore, we hope the sponsorship of official ball for CBA League will render even greater performance amongst the players."

Xin Lancheng, director of the Chinese Basketball Administration Centre, added: "Nike has been playing an instrumental role in the development of basketball in China, and its strong support for CBA league will bring a bright future to the League."

Meanwhile, NBA star Yao Ming has bought the Shanghai Sharks.