MIES (Switzerland) - Wang Zhizhi, a long-time national team star of China whose superstardom in the CBA paved the way for him to become the first Chinese to play in the NBA, is being inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 2026.
He will be honored at an enshrinement ceremony in Berlin on April 21, along with other members of the class - Sue Bird (USA), Celine Dumerc (France), Clarisse Eulalia Machanguana Ambrosi (Mozambique), Ludwik Miętta-Mikołajewicz (Poland), Dirk Nowitzki (Germany), Hedo Türkoğlu (Türkiye), and Ismenia Pauchard (Chile), who is being inducted posthumously.
Wang was only 18 when he captured the attention of sports fans in the Far East as a member of the national team at the FIBA Asia Cup 1995 in Korea, where China beat Korea in the Final to celebrate the first of his four FIBA Asia Cup titles.
The following month, he traveled to Greece to compete at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 1995. In eight games, he averaged 22.3 points and 11.1 rebounds and had a dominating efficiency average of 25.3 per game.
He wasn't just viewed as the rising star of Chinese basketball, but as one of the best players in the country.
Nicknamed "Da Zhi" (Big Zhi), Wang caught the eye with his shooting touch, his versatility on offense and his finesse. His smooth mid-range jumper and 3-pointers set him apart at a time when most centers operated in and around the paint.
In 1996, he made his Olympic bow in Atlanta, averaging 11.1 points and 5.6 rebounds. At his second Olympics in 2000, in Sydney, Wang averaged 13.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
On the club scene, he helped the Bayi Rockets claim seven titles in his two stints with the club - from 1996 to 2001 and another in 2007. He was the CBA MVP in 2000, and also League Finals MVP.
The Dallas Mavericks picked him 36th in the 1999 NBA Draft, but Wang didn't become the first Chinese player in the NBA until April 5, 2001, when he made his start with the Mavs.
He remained in the league for several years, playing for Dallas (2001-2002), the Los Angeles Clippers (2002-2003) and the Miami Heat (2003-2005).
Wang spent the rest of his career back in China, playing for the Bayi Rockets from 2006 to 2015, and during that time made plenty of headlines for his national team.
At the 2006 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Wang helped China reach the Round of 16 and two years later, he experienced the joy of playing for a host nation at the Olympics in Beijing.
The following year, in 2009, Wang showed up at the FIBA Asia Cup and averaged 16.7 points per game as China made it to the Final.
He then celebrated his fourth Asia Cup gold medal as China edged Jordan in the Final. Wang played for his country the last time at the FIBA Asia Cup 2013.
Name | Wang Zhizhi |
|---|---|
Category of inductee | Player (Center) |
Date of Birth | 8th July 1977 |
Place of Birth | Beijing, People's Republic of China |
Nationality | Chinese |
Height | 2.13m, 7ft 0in |
Teams | · Bayi Rockets (1994-2001) · Dallas Mavericks (2001-2002) · Los Angeles Clippers (2002-2003) · Miami Heat (2003-2005) · Bayi Rockets (2006-2015) |
Club Highlights | · Seven-time Chinese League champion (1996-2001, 2007) |
National Team Highlights | · U18 FIBA Asia Cup silver medalist (1995) · U18 FIBA Asia Cup gold medalist (1996) · U22 FIBA Asia Cup silver medalist (1996) · FISU World University Games silver medalist (2001) · Three-time Asian Games gold medalist (1998, 2006, 2010) · FIBA Asia Cup bronze medalist (1997) · FIBA Asia Cup silver medalist (2009) · Four-time FIBA Asia Cup gold medalist (1995, 1999, 2001, 2011)
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Individual Highlights | · Played in two FIBA World Cups (2006, 2010) · Played in four Olympic Men's Basketball Tournaments (1996, 2000, 2008, 2012) · Chinese League MVP (2000) · Two-time Chinese League Finals MVP (2000, 2007) · Four-time Chinese League blocks leader (1996-1999) · Two-time Chinese League dunk leader (1996-1998) |