Mengke Bateer or Monkhbaatar, is a Mongolian-Chinese former professional basketball player.
11 Facts About Mengke Bateer
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Mengke Bateer spent the majority of his career competing in the Chinese Basketball Association for the Beijing Ducks and Xinjiang Flying Tigers before ending his career with the Sichuan Blue Whales in the lesser National Basketball League.
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Mengke Bateer was the first-ever Chinese player to start an NBA game when he joined the Denver Nuggets in 2002.
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Mengke Bateer made a brief appearance at another pre-draft venue, in Treviso, Italy.
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In October 2001, Mengke Bateer joined the Denver Nuggets for the team's preseason training camp.
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Mengke Bateer was the first undrafted Chinese player in NBA history.
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Mengke Bateer played in Denver's final 25 games of the season, averaging 5.5 points while battling fouls from opponents.
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In summer 2002, Mengke Bateer was traded to the Detroit Pistons, along with Don Reid, for Rodney White and a future first-round pick.
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Mengke Bateer was originally chosen to be named the league's Regular Season MVP, but he had the honor vacated due to a rule forbidding players who were slapped with suspensions from receiving any awards.
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Mengke Bateer competed for China in the Summer Olympic Games at Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, and Athens 2004.
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Mengke Bateer represented the PRC at the 2002 FIBA World Championship in Indianapolis.