Full Name: Mengke Bateer
Position: Center
Height/Weight: 6-11 / 300
Birthdate: November 20, 1975 (China)

BACKGROUND

Participated in training camp with the New York Knicks in 2004.

Played the past three seasons in the NBA with the Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs, and Toronto Raptors. Appeared in seven games for the Raptors in 2003-04, averaging 1.1 points and 1.1 rebounds in 5.7 minutes a contest. Spent the 2002-03 season in San Antonio, averaging 0.8 points and 0.8 rebounds in 3.8 minutes a contest. Appeared in 12 games, missing 43 games due to left patella tendonitis. Entered the NBA with the Denver Nuggets in 2001-02, averaging 5.1 points and 3.6 rebounds in 15.1 minutes a contest. Played in 27 games, starting ten times. Scored career-high 12 points at Minnesota. Grabbed career-high eight rebounds on two separate occasions. Dished out career-high six assists at Chicago. Is the second Chinese player to ever appear in an NBA regular season game, after Wang Zhi-Zhi. Made his debut on February 27, 2002.

Began the 2001-02 season in China with the Beijing Ducks. Averaged 22.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. Show .493 from the field and .346 from three-point range. Was named MVP of the 2002 Chinese Basketball Association All-Star Game. In 2000-01 with the Ducks, averaged 24.8 points, 14.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. Shot .489 from the field, .309 from three-point range, and .719 from the free throw line. Ranked sixth in the league in scoring, second in rebounding, and ninth in blocked shots (1.1 bpg). Helped lead the Ducks to the CBA semi-finals.

A long-time member of the Chinese National Team since 1993. Played on China's Olympic team in 1996, 2000, and 2004. Also participated in the 2002 World Championships and helped China to a silver medal in the 2001 World University Games. Led China with 19 points and seven rebounds against Team USA at the World Championships. Played with China in three Asian Games (1994, 1998, and 2002), the 1999 Goodwill Games, and the 1995 World University Games.

Personal: Name is pronounced (MENK) (ba-TUR). Has two daughters and a son. Established the Bateer Basketball Foundation in February of 2002 for Chinese fans to donate money to build the Basketball Hope Charity School in his home town of Hanging County, Erdos Prairie of Inner Mongolia.