March 27, 2001; Page 1A

NBA may get assist from China
Dallas expecting 7-foot star Wang

By Steve Friess
Special for USA TODAY

BEIJING -- Amid a rough period of China-U.S. relations, a major breakthrough awaits this week: A deal that would bring a Chinese player to the National Basketball Association for the first time.

Wang Zhizhi, 23, is a 7-0, 255-pound center who has toiled since age 14 for the nation's top military team and played in the 2000 Olympics. His NBA rights belong to the Dallas Mavericks, whose gambit in the second round of the 1999 draft could pay off after talks involving San Francisco-based agent Bill Duffy, Mavericks assistant coach Donn Nelson and Chinese Army officials.

If all goes as planned, Wang could be en route to Dallas by Thursday and in uniform before the regular season ends April 18.

An even brighter prospect than Wang, 7-6 Yao Ming, 20, could be the first selection in June's NBA draft if he can come to terms with his team, the Shanghai Sharks.

Having players from the world's most populous nation holds huge economic potential for the NBA. Arenas here throb with standing-room-only crowds for pro games, events that mimic the NBA scene right down to ticket scalpers in the parking lots and loudspeakers blaring Backstreet Boys tunes at intermissions. Chinese kids wear Chicago Bulls apparel and can watch NBA games live every day on TV.

NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik said the league is uncertain whether Wang or Yao will play in the USA: ''We haven't received anything formally yet. Right now, we only hope that is the case.''

Nelson, in Beijing to conclude the deal for Wang, seemed more optimistic: ''This is truly an opportunity for us to bridge the gap between two countries through sport. Wang Zhizhi is really a metaphor for China. He's young, he's on the rise, and he enters a brand new forum with a lot of confidence.''

Said Wang: ''The most important thing I can do is prove the Chinese can play with the best in the world. My time is here. I am ready now.''

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