Mavericks Coach Predicts Bright Future for Chinese Center Wang Zhizhi

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, April 11, 2002

Mavericks Coach Predicts Bright Future for Chinese Center Wang Zhizhi

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Nelson Supervising Wang Zhizhi

Despite being limited in playing minutes in his second season, Chinese center Wang Zhizhi, the first Asian to join in the National Basketball Association (NBA), has a bright future with many a talent, said Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Donn Nelson Wednesday in Dallas Texas.

"Wang is so talented, his future in the NBA is just as high as the ceiling, but I don't want to put any pressure on him," said Nelson at his home, "I don't want to compare him with (German) Dirk (Nowitski). But both of them have the same talents, and Dirk has become an All-Star this season."

Dirk, who joined the NBA three years ago, has become one of the three leading stars for the Mavericks, together with Canadian Steve Nash and American Michael Finley, who is one of the top five clubs in the league, and is chasing for the division title in the 2001-2002 NBA season.

"The second season for any international player is actually his rookie season because all of them must have a full year to adjust to the different environment," Nelson said, explaining the limited minutes for Wang, one of three Chinese players being dubbed as the Walking Great Wall in the basketball arena after the Olympics.

The 2.16-meter Wang played with the Mavericks for his first NBA games last season after he was drafted by the Mavericks in the second round, 36th pick overall of the 1999 NBA Draft. Wang has played 54 games up till now in the new season, averaging 5.5 points in 10 minutes.

Wang registered his career-high 18 points in the March 23 game against the Memphis Grizzles, with an average 42.9 percent shooting from the three-point range in his second year with the Dallas club.

Allout efforts to realize dreams

As a substitute center, Wang said: "I will do my utmost to improve my skills in all fields, offensively and defensively, and even with the boards. And I have my dreams to become a starter and eventually win the title for the Mavericks."

Being thousands of kilometers away from home and living in a country with different culture and language, Wang has conquered his first barrier of communication and is enjoying his friendly relations with teammates through his efforts on and off the court.

"We sometimes went out together and helped make him feel comfortable," said Nowitzki at the Mavericks' locker room, "He is a talented player with confidence. As it's only his second season in the league, our advice to him is to be patient with the playing minutes because it's the same case for any of us."

"As a teammate, I think he has to improve his skills in a lot of fields," said the German international, "And this is true, even for all of us, because nobody is absolutely perfect in the sport."

One of China's most promising basketball players, Wang earned the attention of the basketball world with excellent performances in the past two Olympic Games. Before signing with the Mavericks in last April, Wang led his club team to its sixth straight Chinese Basketball Association Championship, averaging 24.9 points, 11.4 rebounds and 1.77 blocks per game.

Wang Zhizhi Bridges Chinese Basketball with World

By signing a two-year contract with the Dallas Mavericks on April 4, Chinese center Wang Zhizhi is set to make a historical debut as the first Asian player to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA), the most competitive basketball league in the world.

At the 2000 Olympic Games, Wang averaged a team-leading 13.5 ppg and added five rebounds while playing only 26.8 minutes per game. He shot 53.7 percent from the field and 90 percent from the free throw line. He scored a team-high 13 points against the United States in the only game the two countries played.

Personal Info. of Wang
	Birth Date:	07/08/1977	Birthplace:	Beijing, China
	College	None
	Drafted	1999 Round 2 #36 Dallas Mavericks
Height:	7-1	Weight:	220

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