Mengke Bateer

Mengke Bateer is a Chinese former basketball center who became the first Chinese-born player to win an NBA championship, doing so with the 2003 San Antonio Spurs.

Mengke Bateer became the first Chinese-born player to win an NBA championship when he was part of the San Antonio Spurs' 2003 title roster — a distinction that makes him historically unique even alongside more celebrated countrymen Yao Ming and Wang Zhizhi, neither of whom ever won a ring.. Cut before the season began, he returned to China and put up dominant numbers for Beijing before rejoining the Nuggets midseason, becoming the first Chinese player to start an NBA game. Bateer's play at the 2002 FIBA World Championship, where he led China in scoring against a star-studded United States team, caught the attention of San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who acquired him in a trade. Although he saw limited playing time, Bateer became part of the Spurs' 2003 championship-winning roster, making him the first Chinese-born player ever to win an NBA title, a distinction later matched only by Sun Yue in 2009. Bateer went on to play briefly for the Toronto Raptors before returning to China, where he spent the remainder of his career with the Beijing Ducks and Xinjiang Flying Tigers, winning a further CBA championship in 2014 and being named CBA MVP four times. Alongside teammates Yao Ming and Wang Zhizhi, he formed part of China's celebrated 'Walking Great Wall' frontcourt on the national team. He retired in 2015, and the Beijing Ducks retired his No. 9 jersey in his honour.

Physically imposing center known for rebounding and interior presence

A pioneering figure in Chinese basketball, part of the celebrated 'Walking Great Wall' national team frontcourt alongside Yao Ming and Wang Zhizhi

• NBA champion (2003, San Antonio Spurs), first Chinese-born NBA champion
• First Chinese player to start an NBA game
• 4x CBA MVP
• CBA champion (2014)
• Part of China's 'Walking Great Wall' frontcourt with Yao Ming and Wang Zhizhi