CHN – Sun to take temporary leave from China to pursue NBA dream

BEIJING (2010 FIBA World Championship) - China guard Sun Yue will miss some of the national team’s preparations in order to play for the Washington Wizards in a week-long summer league.

Sun, who played for China at the 2008 Olympics, spent the following year in America with the Los Angeles Lakers and their NBDL team.

He had worked out for the Wizards back in 2007 before the NBA draft.

One consequence of travelling to America is that Sun will miss a series of friendly games against Lithuania.

Sun recently played in China's two big wins over an Argentina B team and averaged 11 points, three assists and 1.5 blocks.

Yi, meanwhile, was just traded from New Jersey to Washington and is in the United States recovering from a shoulder injury.

Coach Bob Donewald is confident the power forward will join China soon.

"Yi will be here," Donewald said. "I'm sure he will play at the World Championship.

"He's still in the United States rehabilitating his shoulder and once that is done, he'll begin his personal training."

Donewald said he expects Yi to join China in mid-July.

China will be without 7ft 6in center Yao Ming again this summer.

Yao sat out all of last season with the Houston Rockets following reconstructive foot surgery but is looking to be back on the court with them for the 2010-11 campaign.

The NBA All-Star is the owner of the Shanghai Sharks – the club coached by Donewald.

FIBA