GUANGZHOU (FIBA Asia Cup 2017) - Fan Ziming has spent the last few years proving himself. That is not something usually said about a guy who stands 2.10m tall, who has played in three international tournaments and who is a starting big man in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

For Fan, however, height and experience are two currencies that don't necessarily make him a unique commodity in the vast and deep talent pool of Chinese hoops. Many of his compatriots have great size and have played abroad, but, if history is anything to go on, production - not just presence - is the true key to setting oneself apart.

That is something Fan has yet to exhibit in three outings wearing China's national kit. He first played for China as a wide-eyed 16-year-old at the FIBA U17 World Championship 2014, though he barely played. Next, he suited up in the FIBA Asia U18 Championship 2016, putting up nearly 14 points and 9 rebounds per game, but the Chinese, unfortunately, missed finishing on the podium. He then made it to the senior team for the FIBA Asia Challenge 2016, playing in four games and averaging just 2.5 points and 2 boards per game.

Those numbers are a far cry from the kind of production other Chinese centers like Zhou Qi, Wang Zhelin and Hu Jinqiu put up in their late teens, so Fan still has a long way to go, but the Guangdong native knows that with a lot of man hours he can one day crack the top level men's roster of Team Dragon.

"I hope, through my effort, I can prove myself and play for the national team one day in the future." - Fan

Right now, he is getting a ton of great experience in the CBA as he plays one of the frontline positions for the Guangzhou Long Lions, where he plays alongside Iranian icon Samad Nikkhah Bahrami. Fan has been reasonably productive this season despite being the youngest member of the starting five. He is currently norming 10.2 points and 4.5 rebounds - not bad for a rookie. Not surprisingly, he credits his experience at the youth level with the growth in his game.

"When I was in junior national team, I played against very tough competitors," he said. "Thanks to that experience, I don't have a difficult time in the CBA."

For sure, Fan is also hoping that all the minutes and games he is logging right now will eventually yield a spot at the top tier of Chinese basketball.

FIBA