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Wang Becomes First Asian Player in NBA

By John Leicester/AG

Watch out America, here comes the People’s Liberation Army. Wang Zhizhi, an officer in the Chinese military and the first Asian to join the National Basketball Association, accepted his jersey last week from his new team, the Dallas Mavericks. The towering 7-foot, 255-pound center said he hoped to make China less of a mystery for Americans.

“In America, many people don’t understand China. All they know about China is the Great Wall and the giant panda. The rest they know nothing about,” Wang said. “I can be an emissary to tell them that China has great people, a good environment and many young people working for a good future.”

The 23-year-old’s army-run team, the Bayi Rockets, had refused to release its star when Dallas drafted him in 1999. After two years of arduous negotiations, Chinese officials agreed this month to let him play for Dallas the rest of this NBA season.

At a news conference, Dallas assistant coach Donnie Nelson presented Wang with a white No. 16 Mavericks jersey. Photographers, TV cameramen and reporters swamped Wang as Nelson and Chinese officials — including an army officer in uniform — signed an agreement for Wang’s transfer.

“I think everybody here understands that this is more than just a basketball player going to the NBA,” Nelson said. “Wang Zhizhi is synonomous [with] and represents the spirit of China. He has great potential and he is on the rise.”

“Basketball in China is ready to explode. All it needs is a spark,” he added. “I hope today is that spark.”

Wang’s first game could be against the Atlanta Hawks on April 5, though Nelson and Wang both said he would need time to adapt to the United States and the NBA.

Nelson said foreign players normally take two years to adjust and Wang, like any other player, would have to earn a spot on the team.

“The people of China need to be patient,” said Nelson. “This is a very difficult step. He is playing against the best athletes in the world.”

Chinese newspapers have bubbled with anticipation about Wang.

A full-page article on March 29 in the China Sports Daily listed such minutiae as his blood type — O — and his favorite foods — roast duck and mutton hotpot. Photos in the newspaper showed a smiling Wang wearing a cowboy hat.

Dressed in a low-key argyle sweater at the news conference, Wang looked and sounded more like a shy college kid than a hotly sought-after recruit to the flashy NBA. When he accepted the Mavericks jersey from Nelson, Wang looked even gawkier by putting it on directly over his sweater.

“Of course, once I reach America, there’ll be a period when I’m not used to it,” Wang said. “But I’ll narrow the gap as quickly as possible, because I’m the first to go and carrying lots of people’s hopes. I’ll strive not to disappoint people and do my utmost to prove my worth.”

Nelson said the Mavericks “fully expect” Wang to play for them next season, too, and hope to sign a two-year contract. Wang also was hopeful that Chinese officials would approve another NBA season next year.

“I think it should be OK. After the first step, the rest should be easier,” he said. “The first step is hardest.”