The resignation means Gong has ended his second spell in charge of the team, after he took the reigns for the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games before leading the women’s side at Athens 2004.

Gong returned to lead the men’s team in 2014, with his two-year tenure seeing China reclaim the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Championship title a year later.

He was also in charge of their Rio 2016 Olympic campaign, which would ultimately prove fruitless as China finished bottom of their group after being beaten in all five of their matches.

According to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the current favourite for the post is American Brian Goorjian, who coaches the Shanghai Sharks in China.

Goorjian previously led the Australian national team to two Olympic Games, during a seven-year spell as their head coach.

Greece’s Ilias Zouros and Croatian Neven Spahija have also been linked to the post.

The first challenge for Gong’s successor will be this year’s FIBA Asia Cup, which is set to take place in August.

Attention will also soon turn to the 2019 FIBA World Cup, where China are the host nation. 

A total of 32 nations will compete at the World Cup, with teams set to play regular home and away games to qualify from next November, as part of FIBA’s new competition calendar.

The United States are the defending champions, having beaten Serbia in the 2014 final in Madrid.