China

Chinese giant Sun leaps to new US Minor-League club

(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-03-14 13:22

Sun Mingming (C), a center with the Maryland Nighthawks, rallies with his team before the second half of the Nighthawks v. Montreal Royals game at Montgomery College, March 4, 2007 in Rockville, Maryland. The 2.36m Chinese giant, who is trying to play his way into the National Basketball Association, will try to impress scouts over the next few months with a new minor-league team. [AFP]

Sun Mingming, the 2.36m Chinese giant trying to play his way into the National Basketball Association, will try to impress scouts over the next few months with a new minor-league team.

The Grand Rapids Flight announced Tuesday that the team had signed the 23-year-old center, the tallest player in pro basketball history, for the upcoming International Basketball League season.

Last weekend, Sun completed his season for the Maryland Nighthawks of the American Basketball Association. The team finished 16-17 and missed the league playoffs. Sun averaged 5.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.9 blocks a game.

Sun will report to his new team in Michigan this week ahead of the club's season opener March 22 at Lansing. The 24-team development league plays regular season games from March through June.

Sun, who will appear with Jackie Chan in "Rush Hour III" later this year, underwent surgery last year to remove a pituitary tumor and is working to improve his strength, stamina, speed and skills in hopes of an NBA career.

"We are extremely excited to have Sun playing for us this season," Flight coach David Fox said. "He will be an exciting player to watch as he continues to improve and develop into an NBA-caliber center."

Sun's final game in Rockville saw him combine with 2.31m center Gheorghe Muresan, a former NBA standout with Washington, and two other 7-footers to form the first starting lineup in pro basketball history with four 7-foot goliaths.