Chinese NBA Player Immortalized in Postage Stamps

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, January 05, 2002

Chinese NBA Player Immortalized in Postage Stamps

China's first NBA Player Wang Zhizhi of the Dallas Mavericks was honored on Thursday with two sets of legal tender stamps issued by the Liberian government and distributed globally by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Inter-Governmental Philatelic Corporation (IGPC).

This tribute to Wang is part of the Legends of Sports postage stamp series produced by IGPC, the world's largest postal agency that represents more than 70 countries and regions in the world.

In recognition of his contributions to the sport of basketball and as China's first NBA player, Wang is immortalized with a dozen commemorative postage stamps that are legal tender and valid for postage globally.

Wang: it's a great honor for me

"It is indeed a great honor for me as I only joined in the NBA recently and is being paired with such great athletes as Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali," said a smiling Wang at the NBA store on the fifth avenue in New York. "I know I have great potentials and I hope I can perform to my best in the NBA seasons."

Liberia has a long tradition of issuing postage stamps to honor the achievements of major international athletes, such as Jesse Owens, Ali, Pele, Joe Frazier, Floyd Patterson and George Foreman.

Wang, first Chinese player in the NBA

Wang, one of China's all-time greatest basketball players, became the first player from China to play in the NBA when he joined the Dallas Mavericks in April 2001. He was selected by the Mavericks in the second round of the 1999 NBA Draft with the 38th pick.

Wang earned the attention of the basketball world with excellent performances in the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games. In his first NBA season, he averaged 4.8 points, 1.4 rebounds in 7.6 minutes per game and scored a total of 24 points in five games.

Wang is one of the 51 international players from 30 countries and regions in the NBA.

"The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications of the Government of Liberia is excited by this unique stamp tribute to celebrate humanity and to highlight the achievements of great athletes across the globe," said Yossi Malamud, the IGPC representative for Liberia.

"And today is a great moment, not only because Wang Zhizhi is the first Chinese player in the NBA, but also the first Chinese player into the Legends of Sports postage stamp series," Malamud added.

Stamps to be available January 3, 2002

The stamps will be available for sale across Liberia where postage stamps are sold through stamp dealers and traders around the world starting January 3.

IGPC is assisting its members in the administration of their postal agencies, postage stamp design, production and worldwide distribution, thus creating unique annual postal programs for its clients.

As the leader of the postal industry, IGPC is the first to honor famed icons such as Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and Michael Jordan as well as many other famous athletes, entertainers, scientists and authors on legal tender.

Wang ZhiZhi

Position:C

Born:07/08/77

Height:7-1 / 2,16

Weight: 220 lbs. / 99,8 kg.

Personal:

Prior to joining the Mavericks, led Rockets to their sixth straight Chinese Basketball Assosciation championship in 2000-01

Participated in the 1996 Nike Hoops Summit Game in North Carolina

Wants to buy a Lincoln Navigator, his favorite car

Both of his parents were basketball players

Wears the number 16 because he hopes it will bring him good luck; wore number 14 for Bayi and wears number 15 for the Chinese National Team

Likes playing video games

Loves chocolate ice cream and large Texas steaks

Enjoys listening to pop music and lists Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC among his favorite artists

Wang Zhizhi Bridges Chinese Basketball with World

China's First NBA Player to be Honored on Postage Stamps

China's First NBA Player to be Honored on Postage Stamps