Wang Zhizhi hopes to ease U.S.-China tensions

Wang Zhizhi hopes to ease U.S.-China tensions

DALLAS, Texas (AFP): Chinese center Wang Zhizhi and the Dallas Mavericks hope the National Basketball Association's first Asian player can help ease tensions between China and the United States.

Wang signed a two-year contract with the Mavericks here Wednesday even as the Chinese government was holding a US Navy surveillance plane and its crew of 24, a situation that could damage US-China relations.

"It would be my wish we would be a positive influence on that situation with our friendship here with Wang Zhizhi," Mavericks coach Don Nelson said.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, a young Internet billionaire fined by the NBA this year for criticizing referees, joked about the US-China incident.

"I told him for every day they hold those people there, we will take a hair out of his head and when he gets bald, we have a problem," Cuban said.

There were signs the club was taking security more seriously, with policemen stationed outside a crowded room of about 100 journalists here at the team offices.

Nelson cut off attempts to ask Wang, a Chinese Army soldier who starred for the army's Bayi Rockets team, about the incident.

"We're not going to talk about political issues," Nelson said. "That's politics. We're talking about sports. We're not political. We're sports. and they usually don't mix."

But Wang indicated he knew his sportsman's role included being an informal ambassador to US sports fans.

"I know it's not that easy," he said through translator Xia Song. "I know I will try my best to make the Americans recognize more about the Chinese people and the Chinese young people."

Asked about carrying the hopes of 1.2 billion Chinese people, not to mention others in Asia dreaming of an NBA opportunity, Wang said, "Everyone hopes I can be successful and increase the recognition of China. I have to play good basketball. I won't put any extra pressure on my shoulders."

When Wang was asked about whether or not he thought the Chinese army would call him home in light of the US Navy plane incident, Nelson cut him off before he could reply, saying, "That's fairly political. Let's just talk basketball here."

Wang is expected to make a brief debut here Thursday against Atlanta, a historic first for Asian talent simply for having Wang in uniform.

"I'm not planning on playing him any," Nelson said. "I'm not saying I wouldn't put him in the game. It depends on the situation."

But Nelson's worries are eased by the fact the Mavericks clinched their first playoff berth since 1990 with a victory Tuesday at Houston.

"The Mavericks are playing very well," Wang said. "They have some great players. I think I will catch up with them."

Nelson said Wang will miss October's training camp and the first month of next season to play in November's Asian Championships before returning to the Mavericks, a condition of the deal for his release to the NBA.

Wang expects to make a quick adjustment to the Mavericks, who already have had hundreds of requests for souvenir replicas of his jersey No. 16.