Despite having not yet suited up in a game, Cole, whose full name is Jermaine Lamarr Cole, has been active on Chinese social media, where videos showing him take part in team workouts, shoot-arounds and one-on-one battles with his Chinese teammates have gone viral on platforms like as Douyin, where he opened an account upon landing in China last week.

So far, so good, then, as Cole appreciates the cultural experience of plying his trade in an overseas basketball league for a third time in his storied career.

“I am getting older, so they gave me opportunity to come play on the court professionally. It’s a blessing for me. It’s nice,” said the 41-year-old, who also played in the Basketball Africa League in 2021 and the Canadian Elite Basketball League in 2022.

Reflecting on his time in China, so far, Cole expects to leave a much greater impression than just a turning out for few games.

“Especially in America, we are kind of closed-off,” he said.

“So, for me to personally come and see (China) firsthand, and to be able to tell my friends how nice it is, I think it could change the perceptions that people have.”

McGee, who’s been also keen on sharing his life in China on social media, including experiences such as traveling on high-speed trains to away games, echoed his compatriot’s sentiment.

He’d like to introduce China, a country he visited multiple times with different NBA teams and brands before joining the Ducks, to the States in his own way as well.

“We definitely have premeditated thoughts about China coming from America,” said the 38-year-old center, who won back-to-back NBA titles with the Golden State Warriors from 2017-19 before adding a third ring with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.

“I don't know if it's the media, or whatever, but being here is definitely different than I ever imagined.

“It's totally different. I'm enjoying every moment of it. When we get to travel on bullet trains, that's pretty cool. It's extremely comfortable, and they don't have things like that in the US.

“Whatever things that they don't have in the US, I definitely appreciate and want to experience.”