CHENGDU, China, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- NBA star LeBron James has wrapped up his 2025 China tour in Chengdu, hailing the "incredible reception" of Chinese fans and the energy of China's young players.

The 40-year-old, who will enter his 23rd NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers, said Friday that he was "humbled to inspire the game for the next generation."

A sudden downpour on Friday did little to dampen the excitement of the crowds, as fans had gathered early to wait for the four-time NBA champion and three-time Olympic gold medalist. When James arrived, he greeted the fans, tossed aside his umbrella, and posed for photos in the rain.

"It's super humbling for me to be able to come here, so far away from home, and get the reception and the love, I just wanted to pour it back to the community and to this country," James, whose visit to China was his first since 2019, said on Friday, adding that Chengdu has given him "unbelievable reception."

After a fan event, James joined China's men's national team captain Zhao Rui in leading a training session for China's U19 squad. Dressed in practice gear, James demonstrated physical moves on the drive and finishing at the rim, offering detailed feedback on the players' techniques.

Later that evening, James attended Nike's Mission Rise 2025 Final. During a break in the competition, he teamed up with Chinese women's basketball star Li Meng for a shooting contest against Zhao and Cui Yongxi, who played for the NBA's Brooklyn Nets last season.

Reflecting on why much of his China tour was spent engaging with young athletes, James said, "It's super humbling for me to be able to be in the positions where I can travel around the world to talk about the games and inspire the games. You know that made me who I am, and hopefully I can pass those down to the next generations."

James also noted the rapid growth of basketball in China. "The games of teens are rising, the games of teens are getting better and better," he said. ■