China - Fire still burns for American star in Guangdong

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He enjoys the food, the culture and his teammates, and the basketball is fun too, but for American Jason Dixon, who has played in China for nine years, there is nothing like winning a championship.

During his career as the longest-playing foreigner in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), Dixon has won three titles and a fourth could be on the way this season with his team, the Guangdong Tigers, currently leading the league.

Not only has Dixon, 34, dunked on current Houston Rockets star Yao Ming, he has battled toe-to-toe against top Chinese players such as former NBA centres Wang Zhizhi and Menk Bateer, who are his current top CBA foes.

"All my moments in China are good memories, and that's why I love coming back," the six-foot-nine-inch (2.06-metre) centre told AFP.

Dixon, a native of Denver, Colorado, and former star at Liberty University, played in Europe and the Middle East before venturing to China.

Unlike many other American and Western players -- who rarely stay for more than two years -- Dixon overcame the cultural and other hurdles of playing in China and soon settled comfortably into an enduring Chinese career.

Dixon has long become used to the gruelling, economy-class travel and poor playing facilities in gyms throughout China, as well as a Chinese coaching style that is focused more on intense training than creativity and skills.

Deadly serious on the court but easy-going and a joker off it, Dixon talks enthusiastically about the local food and has even learnt the language to the extent that he can now give press interviews in Chinese.

"Playing professional basketball has always been my dream, so I still think I'm living my dream even though it happens to be in China," said Dixon, who brings his American wife and two children for stints with him each season, something few other foreign players do.

And after nine years in China, the passion for winning still clearly burns.

"I came back with some vengeance in my heart after losing to Bayi (Rockets) last season," he said of the March defeat in the CBA finals.

Bayi's championship ended Guangdong's streak of three straight titles and was the last league final played by Dixon's former teammate Yi Jianlian, currently a leading rookie with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks.

The Tigers this season boast a 21-win, two-loss record, and Dixon has been a crucial figure in their successful run, which has surprised many Chinese media critics, who thought Guangdong would struggle without Yi.

Dixon has anchored Guangdong's defence again this season, while initiating the team's fast break and averaging 17.6 points and 10 rebounds a game.

He currently leads the CBA in most-ever career dunks, is number two in both all-time rebounds and double-doubles (when a player reaches double-digits in two categories, such as points and rebounds, during one game) and is the sixth all-time leading scorer.

Just as importantly as the statistics, he is regarded as a team player.

"I have been involved in China basketball for over 10 years and have never seen a situation even close to what Jason has created at Guangdong," said Bruce O'Neil, president of the United States Basketball Academy that helps supply US players to the CBA.

"He is super with his teammates, is a team leader and has a personality that is likeable by all.

Jason has worked to learn to communicate and do whatever it takes to create longevity in his workplace.

"Rival coaches also envy Dixon's relationship with the Tigers.

"Jason has played with the Guangdong team for so many years that now he is a big stabilising force for them," Beijing Ducks coach Min Lulei told AFP, while also lauding his basketball skills.

"He causes problems for his opponents both on the offensive end and the defensive end.

There is not much you can do to stop him.

"Looking to the future, Dixon would like to keep playing in China for a few more years, and then hopes to continue coaching afterwards.

"I have been here so long, it would be a waste to let all that go, so I would like to stay here and continue to work in basketball as a coach," he said.