Veteran Wang bids farewell to Worlds

China"s Wang Zhizhi (L) drives to the basket past by Lithuania"s Linas Kleiza (R) during their FIBA Basketball World Championship game in Istanbul September 7, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

Wang Zhizhi hugged his younger teammates, smiled and left the Istanbul stadium after his last World Championship match against Lithuania on Tuesday.

The veteran power forward, the first Chinese to play on an NBA team, had no regrets after fighting hard and playing world-class basketball in the team"s 78-67 loss in the last 16.

"It"s my last World Championship. We did very well, although we failed to make it to the last eight," said Wang, 33, who had 11 points and seven rebounds on Tuesday. "I have nothing to regret. I tried my best and gave all I could to this young team."

Wang averaged 13.5 points in the five group matches and was impressive against stronger teams like Greece and Russia.

Wang, who played for the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers and Miami Heat from 2001 to 2005, was the most successful and popular figure of the sport in his generation.

At 17, he became an Olympian at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, where he started and averaged 11.1 points and 5.6 rebounds, helping China to finish in eighth place.

After leading the Chinese team to the 1999 Asia Championship title, Wang again starred for China at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, averaging 13.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game as China finished 10th.

At the Beijing Games, Wang and Houston Rockets center Yao Ming led China to an equal best Olympic result of eighth.

"Whether I was young or old, I never gave up on the court. I have got through a lot of competitions and I hope I can help the young players in this national team," he said.

A modest Wang said he has laid the groundwork for the next generation and hopes the youngsters can make rapid progress after the lessons they learned at the World Championship.

"I"m just one of the players in my generation to do what I should do for the national team. We paved a way for the next generation and now it"s their turn to take over the job and make the team into a world-class one."

　
　  
　
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