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China's Menk Batere Impress Nuggets' Coaches in Training Camp
Chinese center Menk Batere has made his impacts upon the coaches of the Denver Nuggets during his first two days of practice, foreseeing a great chance of playing in the NBA.
"He's very sound fundamentally. I don't think he has played at this level before, but he's been impressive," said coach Dan Issel.
Batere, the 2.11-meter center with a weight of 131 kilograms, has made 97 of 100 free throws, knocked down jumpers, and set hard screens in the first two days of practice in the training camp.
While no other Nuggets player cames within 20 kgs of him, Batere is attracting more interests from the NBA club as the league is crying more clearly for any more heavyweight centers other than Shaquille O'Neal in the Los Angeles Lakers.
"He's plenty big and strong enough to play," said Nuggets' general manager Kiki Vandeweghe, "He has a good shot. Obviously, he hasn't spent a whole lot of time playing against this competition, and I think he will get a lot better the more he plays."
Batere, 26, a native of Inner Mongolia, averaged 4.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in the 2000 Olympic Games. He averaged in double figures in both categories with the Beijing Ducks in the Chinese national league.
Together with forward Wang Zhizhi who joined in the Dallas Mavericks last season, and NBA prospect Yao Ming, Batere is the member of the trio that was called China's "Walking Great Wall" in the Sydney Games.
Batere, the oldest of the three and considered the least talented, was recommended to the Nuggets by Jarinn Akana, their player development assistant and Asian region scout who was a guest coach for China's national team.
On his own part, Batere said "it is definitely one of my dreams to play in the NBA. And a lot will depend on how hard I work in the training camp. Hopefully I'll be able to make it."
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