Chinese NBA pioneer Wang Zhizhi returned home
after a four-year exile, humbly declaring his desire to play again for China
after his career in the world's biggest basketball league was cut short.
"I realized I made a big mistake," state television quoted the
2.12-meter (seven-foot) power forward as saying after arriving at Beijing
airport, in reference to his decision to forsake national duties in preference
for the NBA.
"I want to say sorry to my fans and to the Bayi (Rockets) team which trained
me and gave me the chance to play in the NBA."
Wang became the first Chinese basketballer to play in the National Basketball
Association when he made his debut with the Dallas Mavericks in 2001.
But he was expelled from China's national team after he refused to represent
his country in the 2002 Asian Games in South Korea, and he had remained in the
United States since then as he pursued his lackluster NBA career.
"I was too young to make the right decision," Wang, 29, said, adding his
ambitions now firmly lay with playing again for China.
"I hope to return to training with the national team this year and make the
efforts so I can play in this year's World Championship and the 2008 Beijing
Olympics," Wang said
The Chinese Basketball Association, which had been trying to lure Wang back
for some time to ensure the strongest possible team for the Olympics, signaled
he had been forgiven.
"It's a crucial move for him to return in an answer to the motherland's
call," Xinhua quoted the association as saying in a statement.
After skipping national duties to pursue his NBA career, Wang's refusal to
return home had largely centered on his status as a soldier and the military's
refusal to issue him a civilian passport and decommission him.
His military passport expired several years ago, placing him in diplomatic
limbo, according to state press reports, while he was able to remain in the
United States with a permanent residence permit.