DALLAS — Wang Zhi Zhi, the 7-foot-1 center from China drafted by the Dallas Mavericks, arrived in Dallas on Thursday night with assistant coach Donnie Nelson.
The Mavericks scheduled a news conference for Wednesday to announce the team's signing of Wang, who would be the first player from China to play in the NBA.
The Mavericks have worked for three years to secure Wang's release from the Chinese army. Coach Don Nelson even traveled to China to conduct a series of clinics and meet with Chinese basketball federation officials.
"It's been a long, arduous process," Donnie Nelson said Thursday. "There was no timetable. We knew it would be a long process . . . The bottom line is he's an NBA player and we're excited to have him."
Wang finished the Chinese Basketball League finals last week, leading the Bayi Rockets to a 3-1 series victory over the Shanghai Sharks. Wang scored 40 points in Game 4.