China's first NBA player cut by Clippers

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, November 25, 2003

China's first NBA player cut by Clippers

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China's first NBA player Wang Zhizhi's tough journey in America has hit another rock as he was waived by the Los Angeles Clippers over the weekend to make room for journeyman point guard Doug Overton.

26-year-old Chinese center Wang Zhizhi was originally picked by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round in the 1999 NBA Draft, and joined the Clippers in October last year as a free agent after one and a quarter seasons in Dallas.

2.16-meter Wang Zhizhi signed a three-year, $6-million dollar contract, and appeared in 43 games during parts of two seasons with the Clippers, averaged 4.3 points and played in just two games this season.

The cut by Clippers has further aggravated Wang Zhizhi's future in NBA, which had already been overshadowed by another Chinese center, Yao Ming of Houston Rockets.

Although honored as the first Chinese NBA player, Wang Zhizhi has been at odds with the Chinese sports authorities and his home club over the last two years since he refused for several times to go home and represent China at major international competitions.

Wang Zhizhi explained that he wanted to make some kind of "deal" with the Chinese sports authorities in order to continue his play in NBA, but the Chinese Basketball Association openly criticized him for lack of professional codes, disciplines and national interests, and expelled him out of the Chinese national team last year.

The Chinese Basketball Association has not yet made any official comments on Wang Zhizhi's cut by Clippers. However, his home club, the Bayi Rockets, has extended welcome home to him. The former league champions are now struggling in the new season after the retirement of several veteran players.

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