alamo50
04-20-2005, 09:41 AM
Center working out in U.S. to prepare for 2005 draft
NBCSports.com news services
Updated: 11:22 p.m. ET April 19, 2005
Apparently Yao Ming isn't the biggest thing to ever come out of China, even though he is 7-foot-6.
China now has another potential star who is even bigger than Yao. His name is Sun Ming Ming, he's 7-foot-8 3/4, and he also has dreams of playing in the NBA.
The Greensboro (N.C.) News & Record reported that Sun is working out in Greensboro with an eye on the 2005 draft.
"With his size, that intrigues everybody," former NBA player Keith Gatlin told the News & Record after working out with Sun. "He can really shoot the ball to be that size. The challenge for him now is to get mobile, to get up and down the court."
"I have more opportunities here," Sun told the paper through interpreter Hsiao-Yin Chu. "I have the opportunity to play with the best players in the world and get into good basketball."
According to the report, Sun will stay in the U.S. until May, when he'll return to China to play in the national games with his club team. He is expected to return in June for the draft.
China has three players in the NBA. In addition to Yao, there is Wang Zhizhi of the Miami Heat, who stands 7-1, and 6-11 Mengke Bateer, who played for three different teams from 2001-04.
© 2005 NBC Sports.com
NBCSports.com news services
Updated: 11:22 p.m. ET April 19, 2005
Apparently Yao Ming isn't the biggest thing to ever come out of China, even though he is 7-foot-6.
China now has another potential star who is even bigger than Yao. His name is Sun Ming Ming, he's 7-foot-8 3/4, and he also has dreams of playing in the NBA.
The Greensboro (N.C.) News & Record reported that Sun is working out in Greensboro with an eye on the 2005 draft.
"With his size, that intrigues everybody," former NBA player Keith Gatlin told the News & Record after working out with Sun. "He can really shoot the ball to be that size. The challenge for him now is to get mobile, to get up and down the court."
"I have more opportunities here," Sun told the paper through interpreter Hsiao-Yin Chu. "I have the opportunity to play with the best players in the world and get into good basketball."
According to the report, Sun will stay in the U.S. until May, when he'll return to China to play in the national games with his club team. He is expected to return in June for the draft.
China has three players in the NBA. In addition to Yao, there is Wang Zhizhi of the Miami Heat, who stands 7-1, and 6-11 Mengke Bateer, who played for three different teams from 2001-04.
© 2005 NBC Sports.com