In 1982, Gong began to play for the Shandong Province youth soccer team, and in 1986, at the age of 17, he was selected to the Chinese national Under-19 team. In 1988, Gong competed in a national urban basketball tournament, and was chosen as an outstanding player; he was also listed as one of China's top ten basketball players of that year; in 1989, at the age of 20, Gong joined the Chinese national basketball team.
As a basketball player, Gong Xiao Bin represented his native Shandong Province, both as a sports role model, and as a player, leading the Shandong men's team at the Chinese National Games, including the 1997 games in Shanghai, at which the Shandong Province finished 3rd overall.
