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Star centre Wang back home after four years

(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-04-10 05:46

China's star centre Wang Zhizhi expressed his hope of playing at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at Los Angeles airport before he left for Beijing yesterday.

It is the first time the former Miami Heat centre has returned home since his relationship with China Basketball Association (CBA) became sour four years ago due to his refusal to return to China for national team training.

"It has been a long time. I am so glad to be coming back home," Wang told a CCTV reporter.

"The 2008 Beijing Olympics is a dream come true for every Chinese. I hope I can play as a national member," said Wang, who arrived at Beijing Capital Airport early this morning.

The 2.12-metre centre has played sparingly in a lacklustre NBA career that began with the Dallas Mavericks in 2002, followed by a stint with the Los Angeles Clippers before he was cut from Miami Heat late last season.

Since 2002, the CBA has tried to seek Wang's return in many ways, but their efforts have proved in vain due to his negative attitude. The turning point came in 2005 when Wang, who missed out on the World Championships and Asian Games in 2002, and the Athens Games in 2004, contacted the CBA through a Chinese reporter, expressing his willingness to compete at the Beijing Olympics.

"I made a mistake when I made the decision to stay in America at that time. I apologize to the people," Wang said.

Li Yuanwei, chief director of the sport's governing body met with Wang last month in Los Angeles in the first face-to-face talks between the sides since the dispute began.

With the Beijing Olympic Games fast approaching, the national team is set to play a series of international tournaments in 2006, including the World Basketball Championships this August in Japan and the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar in December.

Wang, who averaged 22.8 points and 8.9 rebounds when he led the Chinese military club Bayi to consecutive CBA titles from 1996 to 2001, is widely believed to hold a crucial post as power forward in the Yao Ming-led team.