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China has very talented basketball players and the NBA is looking
forward to their presence in the United States, said NBA Commissioner
David Stern during the NBA All-Star weekend in Washington on Saturday
evening.
"Wang Zhizhi, Yao Ming and Menk Bateer, they are very talented
players, and I'm looking forward to their joining in the NBA, and
I'm looking forward to seeing them in the United States," said
Stern in a court-side interview with Xinhua.
Wang was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks last season, but was kept
at home by his local club in Beijing, and Yao is reportedly expected
to line up for the draft this season, together with Bateer, concerned
sources revealed.
"They will become starting players in a couple of years if
they can get right kind of coaches and training," said the
commissioner, "Through expert training and good coaching, they
will go to another level, and it's important for them to have NBA
training."
Even if they would not be in the starting rosters after their eventual
joining in NBA, "they'll practice every day, they'll work out
with coaches, and they'll certainly get better by playing around
against better players," said Stern.
"Next October is our target," said Michael Denzel, managing
director of NBA Asia Limited, when being asked when NBA will have
its China Game in the future.
However, Stern fielded the same question in a diplomatic tone,
saying "soon, very soon, as soon as Yao Ming joins in NBA."
(Xinhua 02/11/01)
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