Wang Zhizhi

Wang Zhizhi is a Chinese basketball legend who became the first Chinese-born player to compete in the NBA, paving the way for Yao Ming and the sport's explosive growth in China.

On April 5, 2001, Wang Zhizhi stepped onto the court for the Dallas Mavericks and became the first Chinese-born player in NBA history — a barrier he crossed two years after being drafted, having already won six CBA championships and an MVP award with the Bayi Rockets back home.. He quickly became a national sensation, helping the Bayi Rockets win seven CBA championships and being named the league's MVP in 2000, drawing comparisons to a young Yao Ming, whom he dominated on the court during the pair's early rivalry. Wang was selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the 36th pick of the 1999 NBA Draft, but did not make his NBA debut until April 5, 2001, becoming the first Chinese-born player to play in the league. He went on to play for the Los Angeles Clippers and Miami Heat over parts of three NBA seasons, though a 2002 dispute with Chinese basketball authorities over his refusal to return home for national team duty saw him temporarily banished from the Chinese national team. Wang returned to China and rejoined the Bayi Rockets from 2006 to 2015, adding an eighth CBA title, and represented China at three Olympic Games, including as flag bearer at the 2008 Beijing Games. He earned a place in the FIBA Hall of Fame's class of 2026 in recognition of his pioneering NBA career and sustained excellence for the Chinese national team, and moved into coaching with the Bayi Rockets after retiring.

Tall, agile center with a deadly outside shot unusual for his size

A trailblazing figure who paved the way for Chinese players in the NBA, most notably Yao Ming, and helped fuel the sport's massive growth in China

• First Chinese player in NBA history (2001)
• 7x CBA Champion (Bayi Rockets)
• CBA MVP (2000)
• 2x CBA Finals MVP (2000, 2007)
• FIBA Hall of Fame inductee (2026)