Former NBA superstar Kobe Bryant has joined Yao Ming as the global ambassadors for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which will be held in China.

FIBA announced the news through its official website on Wednesday.

Los Angeles Lakers NBA star Kobe Bryant speaks to fans while attending a sports promoting activity calling for the youngsters to take part in sports games in summer nights in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Aug. 5, 2013. [Photo: Xinhua/Jiao Weiping]

Yao Ming is the basketball icon in China and is currently president of China Basketball Association.

Kobe Bryant is one of the well-known players of the NBA in China. Bryant won five championships with the Los Angelese Lakers. While he never played in the World Cup, Bryant won the gold medal with the USA national team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup will be held in eight Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, from August 31 to September 15.