Wang Zhizhi is a Chinese former professional basketball player who is currently the head coach of the Bayi Rockets, the team with which he spent his domestic career in the Chinese Basketball Association.
21 Facts About Wang Zhizhi
2.
Wang Zhizhi played in the National Basketball Association for the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, and Miami Heat, becoming China's first player to compete in the NBA.
3.
The son of two former basketball players, Wang Zhizhi started playing basketball at the age of 8, and when he was 14 his parents signed him up for the People's Liberation Army, considering the PLA to have the best coaching and facilities in China.
4.
Wang Zhizhi grew up watching weekly NBA game broadcasts on television in Beijing, idolizing Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley.
5.
Wang Zhizhi signed his first professional contract with the Bayi Rockets in 1994.
6.
Wang Zhizhi became the first ever Chinese player to play in the National Basketball Association.
7.
Two days after Dallas were eliminated from the playoffs, Wang Zhizhi hurried back to China to play in the 2001 East Asian Games according to an agreement formed between the Chinese authorities and the Dallas Mavericks.
8.
However, Wang Zhizhi still had one obligation to fulfill before being allowed to return to the National Basketball Association.
9.
Wang Zhizhi returned to Dallas after barely defeating Yao Ming's Shanghai team by one point in the final, but he found that he had a lot of catching up to do as other players already had two months of preparation and training.
10.
Wang Zhizhi fired his agent Xia Song when the latter suggested otherwise, and following the advice of his American-born Chinese friend Simon Chan, moved to Los Angeles without telling either Dallas or his Chinese side about his intentions.
11.
Wang Zhizhi was ultimately dismissed from the Chinese national team for failing to return to China for practice in 2002.
12.
Wang Zhizhi signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2002 and after a season with them, he was placed on waivers.
13.
Wang Zhizhi was named CBA Finals MVP for the second time in his career as the Rockets beat the Guangdong Southern Tigers in the championship series.
14.
On July 12,2016, Wang Zhizhi officially finalized his retirement from professional basketball.
15.
Wang Zhizhi became the first ever Chinese player to be invited to play for the international squad against the best American high school players in the prestigious Nike Hoop Summit.
16.
Wang Zhizhi started the game and scored six points and six rebounds.
17.
Wang Zhizhi was then offered a basketball scholarship from John Thompson to play for Georgetown University.
18.
Wang Zhizhi was included in the Chinese national basketball team for the 1996 Summer Olympics, where he averaged 11.1 points per game and 5.6 rebounds per game, helping the team to finish as 8th place overall.
19.
On 10 April 2006, following weeks of rumors from the Chinese media, Wang Zhizhi returned to China from the National Basketball Association after being expelled from the national team for four years due to conflicts with Chinese officials.
20.
Wang Zhizhi publicly apologized for his past mistakes and stated that he wanted to represent his national team in the 2006 FIBA World Championship as well as the 2008 Summer Olympics.
21.
Wang Zhizhi recovered in time to play in the tournament and averaged 8.2 points per game and 3.5 rebounds per game.