China's first NBA player Wang Zhizhi (C) gestures during the national basketball team practice in Beijing June 2, 2006. Wang has earned a recall to the national team after four years in the wilderness following his refusal to play in the 2002 Asian Games. An apologetic Wang returned to his homeland admitting that he had made a mistake and asked to be reconsidered for national duty. Wang paved the way for Chinese NBA players Yao Ming and Menk Barteer when he signed for the Dallas Mavericks in 2001.[Reuters]