Luo, Kaiyi2024-09-202024-09-202024-09-20https://wyoscholar.uwyo.edu/handle/internal/9695https://doi.org/10.15786/wyoscholar/9905The transnational mobility of naturalized athletes has become a global issue as sports globalization continues, sparking discussions about naturalized athletes’ cultural identity and sense of belonging. Utilizing the three-level news framework theory, this study analyzes the themes, discourse structure, and rhetoric in media coverage of Kyle Anderson, the first-ever naturalized athlete in Chinese basketball history. Additionally, it uses social network analysis to explore key terminologies used by the media and their relationships, shedding light on how Chinese mainstream media construct Kyle Anderson’s cultural image and the values they convey. This study finds that Chinese mainstream media have transformed Kyle Anderson’s image from an individual athlete to a national symbol by emphasizing “family” and integrating sportsmanship with traditional culture. Furthermore, the media’s focus on national identity and cultural integration highlights the role of family in cultural transmission. However, this research identifies issues of uneven media coverage, superficial reporting, and limited scope. In this case, it is recommended that media coverage be intensified during non-competitive periods and diversified with in-depth features and interviews to present a more nuanced portrayal of naturalized athletes. Moreover, the media should broaden the scope of coverage to integrate naturalized athletes’ cultural image into a broader social context, fostering a more comprehensive understanding of their identities in the age of sports globalization.enAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/sports globalizationnaturalized athletemedia constructioncultural imagePresentation