Veteran hails China's gala
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Wang Zhizhi, the first Chinese hoopster playing in the NBA, said the gap between the country's own All-Star Weekend and the NBA's festival is narrowing.
Wang, the Dallas Mavericks' second-round pick in the 1999 NBA draft, landed in the United States two years later and attended the 2002 NBA All-Star Weekend in Philadelphia as a spectator.
The experience of taking part in the fans' jam session activities during the weekend in the US impressed Wang. He told China Daily the CBA's all-star event is catching up to the NBA's standard, but still needs some time.
"They (the NBA) have held the event for several decades while we have only a couple of years' experience," said Wang, who first played in the CBA All-Star Game in 1997 and will lead the South team as a starter in his 11th all-star appearance this year.
Due to their cultural background, Chinese players appear less keen to express themselves or amuse fans than foreign players. However, Wang sang a pop song at last year's all-star event's opening ceremony to entertain the fans. The low-key big man said his job this year is "just playing the game at an all-star level and try to provide a stunning show".
The gala, which begins as the regular season concludes, will also act as a tune-up for the players who will compete in the playoffs from March 23. Wang's team, Bayi Rockets, which dominated the league from 1995-2007 - winning eight titles, has suffered from retirements and the lack of top foreign recruits in recent years. The Rockets rely on 34-year-old Wang, who returned from the US in 2006 and is now trying to help cultivate the team's talent on and off the court.
"Every team goes through ups and downs during an extended period. We have won glory in the past and have to face tough times right now. Young guys need time to improve. I am happy to share my experience and technical expertise with them," Wang said.
