China, Germany to Get US Test

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, February 07, 2002

China, Germany to Get US Test

China's Wang Zhizhi and German stars Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Bradley will get an early test against fellow National Basketball Association rivals at the 2002 World Championships, Tuesday's draw determined in Indianapolis. This will be the 14th edition of the quadrennial event started in 1950.

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Germany, China and Algeria in Group C

Germany, China and Algeria were drawn into Group C along with the United States team of NBA players for the 16-team event that runs from August 29 to September 8.

This will be the 14th edition of the quadrennial event started in 1950.

The favored US team features Olympians Jason Kidd of New Jersey, Ray Allen of Milwaukee and Reggie Miller of Indiana plus Toronto's Antonio Davis, Phoenix's Shawn Marion, Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal, Dallas' Michael Finley and five men to be chosen.

Tough Games Ahead

Wang, Bradley and Nowitzki play alongside Finley for the NBA Mavericks. Nowitzki had not wanted to face the US juggernaut so early, because results carry over into the second round even though three teams advance from each preliminary group.

"It's tough having them there," Nowitzki said. "They are the favorites of course and I was hoping we could get around them until the final.

"It's going to be fun (playing Finley). He's going to have some more gray hair after we get done with him."

Wang will spark a Chinese team whose "Moving Great Wall" might all one day play in the NBA. Miller, a member of the 1998 US gold medal team, has a healthy respect for the Asian champions even though he has little knowledge of China's talent.

"People will find out right away how far international basketball has come," said Miller.

"Obviously, Germany with Dirk is a legitimate threat, and although I don't know much about China, I've certainly heard a lot about the progress they've made.

"They've got a player in the NBA now, and there has been a promise that they have more players, who are capable of playing in the NBA. It's going to be a test for us, and hopefully by playing the World Championship in Indianapolis, we will have a true home court advantage."

Other Preliminary Round Pools

Other preliminary round pools include European top seed Yugoslavia, Spain, Canada and Angola in Group A; Puerto Rico, Brazil, Turkey and Lebanon in Group B; and Russia, Argentina, Venezuela and New Zealand in Group D.

US teams own a 91-23 record in World Championship play, including three titles, the most recent coming with a team of NBA players in 1994.

No set of NBA players has lost in world or Olympic competition, although a set of collegians and minor leaguers settled for third in 1998 in Athens after NBA players decided not to participate as part of a labor dispute with league owners.

Overall Level Remarkable

"What makes the 2002 World Championship so extraordinary is the overall level of competition," said US coach George Karl, who guides the NBA Milwaukee Bucks.

"Of 16 nations competing, there are certainly 10 to 12 teams that will compete for a medal.

"We're going to have to get out of the starting block strong. International basketball has significantly improved over the past few years as is evident by the increasing number of international players in the NBA," he said.

So no matter who we face in the later rounds, I know that we are going to be challenged and our play as a team will have to continually improve as we progress."

Three teams from each pool advance to two six-nation groups with results carrying over in a round-robin format. Groups A and B will come together as will Groups C and D, making a US-Russia match-up likely in the second round.

The top four teams in each group reach quarter-final match-ups September 5, with winners going to the semi-finals on September 7 to set up the next day's final.

Personal Info. of Wang
Birth Date:	07/08/1977	College	None
Birthplace:	Beijing, China	Drafted	1999 Round 2 #36 Dallas Mavericks
Height:	7-1
Weight:	220
Last Game of Dallas
Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2001
Seattle		105	Final
Dallas		97

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