DALLAS, April 4, 2001-- Dallas Mavericks general manger/head coach Don Nelson announced today the team has signed center Wang Zhizhi (Wong Zjeuh-Zjehu) to a two-year contract. Wang (7-0, 255) was originally selected by the Mavericks in the second round of the 1999 NBA Draft (36th overall). By signing with the Mavericks, Wang becomes the first Chinese player to play in the NBA.
Wang and Nelson give each other a handshake.
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One of China's most promising basketball players; Wang earned the attention
of the basketball world with excellent performances in each of the past two
Olympic Games. At the 2000 Olympic Games, he averaged a team-leading 13.5
ppg and added five rebounds per game 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. He led China in scoring in three of
the six games, including a team-high 19 points in a 75-60 win over New
Zealand. Notched team-high 10 rebounds in a loss to France. In the 1996
Olympic Games, he averaged 11.1 points and 5.6 rebounds.
 Wang and Nelson answer questions at the press conference.
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This past season, Wang led the Rockets to their sixth straight Chinese
Basketball Association Championship and was named a league All-Star. He
averaged 24.9 points, 11.4 rebounds and 1.77 blocked shots per game. In the
championship series, he averaged 27.5 points and 11 rebounds per game.
In the 1999-2000 season, he was named regular season, final and All-Star
Game MVP of the Chinese Basketball Association and won the Slam Dunk
contest.
Wang and Nelson hold Wang's jersey.
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He was named one of the "50 Top Stars of New China Basketball" since the
founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 at the CBA All-Star Game
in April of 1999. He led the national team to victory in the Asian
Basketball Championship (ABC). In 1998-99, Wang ranked first in blocked
shots (63), third in scoring (656 points), fourth in slam dunks (36) and
eighth in rebounds (184).
In 1998, Wang was named to the All-Star team for the third consecutive time
as he led the Rockets to their third straight Chinese Basketball
Association Championship, averaging 22.2 points, 9.3 rebounds and three
blocked shots per game. In 1997, Wang was named to the All-Star team for
the second straight year, leading the Rockets to their second straight
Chinese Basketball Association Championship, averaging 16.5 points, 7.3
rebounds and 3.2 blocked shots per game.
Earlier in the year Wang led the Chinese Junior Team to the Asian Under-18
Basketball Championship title and was named MVP of the ABC Asian
18-and-Under Championships.
