Sideline Story China Plus

Chinese basketballer Cui Yongxi is taking part in the 2024 NBA draft. We share our opinions on whether the 21-year-old could become the 7th Chinese player to make it in the NBA and what challenges he faces. We also discuss if the Boston Celtics can repeat their NBA championship in the following seasons.

England is among the top favorites for the Euro 2024 title with a luxurious squad at head coach Gareth Southgate’s disposal, but what might hinder them from going forward? Also in this episode, we touch on host Germany’s potential for going deep on home soil, Cristiano Ronaldo’s last shot at the European Championship, and teams that may surprise everyone at the tournament.

Indian coach Rahul Dravid has announced his departure after the T20 Cricket World Cup. Will it impact India’s campaign as the team aims to win the title for the first time since the inaugural edition in 2007? Also in this episode, we touch on the United States as the co-host of the tournament as well as cricket’s expansion globally over the years.

Rafael Nadal was knocked out in the French Open opening round for the first time in his career after a straight sets defeat to Alexander Zverev. Does it mean the end of his era as the King of Clay? Will we see his return at Grand Slams? Also in this week’s Sideline Story, we touch on Novak Djokovic's French Open title hopes as well as Chinese star Zheng Qinwen's prospects at Grand Slams.

Manchester City has won a historic fourth consecutive English Premier League title, setting a new record. But does it mean they have become the most dominant Premier League team ever, even in comparison with Manchester United in the 1990s and early 2000s? Also in this episode, we analyze how Leverkusen managed to complete an unbeaten season in the German Bundesliga, and touch on the managerial changes across different European powerhouses, including Liverpool and Bayern Munich.

With the early postseason exit for superstars LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and more big names, the NBA Playoffs seems to have switched to a new era with more up-and-coming stars in spotlight. Is the dominance of the old guns truly over? Also in this episode, we touch on the surprising performances by some of the teams seldom mentioned in the playoffs. We also discuss the title hopes of the mighty Denver Nuggets and the top team in the regular season, the Boston Celtics.