Wang Zhizhi made his NBA debut with the Dallas Mavericks during a 2001 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Zhizhi had been playing professional basketball with the Bayi Rockets of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) since he was 17 and won six consecutive CBA championships with the Rockets. Although CBA officials were reluctant to release Zhizhi to the U.S., he became the 36th pick of the 1999 draft for the Dallas Mavericks and moved to Dallas, on the condition that he would return in November 2001 to play in the National Games. Between 1999 and 2002 he bounced between NBA and CBA until he refused to return to China in 2002 and moved to L.A. Both Nike and the Mavericks distanced themselves from Zhizhi but the Clippers signed him for their 2002 season. With the Clippers, Zhizhi only less than seven minutes of play per game. In 2005, he returned to China to play for the Rockets. Zhizhi paved that way for other Chinese players to join the NBA, most famously Yao Ming in 2002.
Today in Sports History: April 5
LOS ANGELES - MARCH 3: Zhizhi Wang #16 of the Los Angeles Clippers drives against the New Orleans Hornets during the game at Staples Center on March 3, 2003 in Los Angeles, California. The Hornets won 111-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2003 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)