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A tall order but Sun still has his sights set on NBA
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-28 10:11

A tall order but Sun still has his sights set on NBA

His lack of stamina has been traced back to a brain tumor attached to his pituitary gland which made him grow at a fast rate but also fatigued him quickly.

He had the tumor removed on Sept 26, 2005 with a fund raised by his agent, Charles Bonsignore, and had a recent check-up in February which showed "everything was OK".

After the surgery, Sun played with several American minor league teams before signing with Mexican professional team Fuerza Regia in Monterrey on June 20, 2007. He played for half a season and then signed with the Japanese club and averaged 7.5 points and 5.9 rebounds in 51 games.

Sun says he is yet to realize his true potential.

"Though I'm still not good enough, I have made considerable progress in the past two years and I see the space to improve," he said.

Sun still dreams of a career in the NBA, like compatriots Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian and Wang Zhizhi. He said that was an "unrealistic goal" a few years ago.

If he does reach the game's pinnacle, he will become the tallest player in the NBA, surpassing Manute Bol and Gheorghe Muresan, who both stand at 2.31m.

"Basketball has given me so much. Without it I couldn't have cured my disease; I couldn't have gone to so many places and met so many people. I'm satisfied with my life now," Sun said. "There are a lot things out of my control, like injuries. They keep you from pursuing higher goals.

"However, I will continue my career as a pro. I've been on the court for many years and I love the feeling. I won't give it up easily."

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