NBA

Next Yao? 7-foot-9 Chinese player hopes so

Sun undergoes surgery on pituitary gland, dreams of playing in NBA

Chris Keane / Reuters

China's Sun Ming Ming of China, who stands at nearly 7-foot-9, would be the tallest player in NBA history if he ever plays in the league.

NBA executives have shied away from Sun because of his medical problems, but his size alone could raise interest if the second surgery is a success.

“Those guys take up space. They make you do things you don’t want to do,” Charlotte Bobcats coach and general manager Bernie Bickerstaff said. “You remember big (Mark) Eaton of Utah? He wasn’t agile, but he made you change your offense.”

Sun’s lone stint with an American pro team was last season in Kansas with the Dodge City Legend of the United States Basketball League. He joined the team shortly after his first surgery and wasn’t in good shape. He played sparingly and thinks he didn’t get a chance to show his skills.

“It was a small town,” Sun said of Dodge City. “The weather was no good, the people were nice. But I played very, very little.”

Along with his size and bulk — he’s not skinny like Shawn Bradley or Manute Bol — Sun has a nice shooting touch with a fluid stroke. He consistently hit outside shots during a recent workout.

“I definitely think he can play in the NBA,” Manning said. “He’s an awesome shooter. He hit 59 free throws in a row the other day. There aren’t many big guys who shoot like he does. He just needs to run the court a little faster.”

That’s the weakest part of Sun’s game. He has trouble moving up and down the court and still tires easily. Sun hopes to start auditioning for NBA teams early next year, although his doctors caution it will still be a few years before he could be completely healthy. His visa is scheduled to expire in July 2008.

“We’re really in no hurry,” Manning said. “He’s only 23, so we don’t want to throw him out there when he’s not ready. He feels so much better now. He laughs. He jokes. Most people don’t see that. He loves our kids, our animals. He’s such a good guy.”

Sun has learned enough English in the past year to hold a conversation and he’s scheduled to play a small role in an upcoming Jackie Chan movie. But his focus remains on playing in the NBA.

“I hope I will feel much, much better so I can play basketball, get strong and make some team,” Sun said. “That’s what I hope.”

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