While Yao Ming is wowing the crowds in the NBA, Chinese point guard  Liu Wei revealed to The Daily Telegraph he wants to make a mark of his own by securing a deal with an Australian team in the NBL.

Speaking through his manager Frank Sha from Beijing, Liu said he hoped his one-off appearance in the NBL's All-Star game in Sydney on December 27 would open the door to an Australian contract.

The media appeal of the Chinese player is enormous, with today's official announcement by NSW Premier Maurice Iemma of Liu's participation in the All-Star game to be viewed by 20 million Chinese.

"I do think playing in the Australian NBL can make me play better," Liu said.

"Australia has a strong basketball program and I do think Chinese players need to play in more physical competition."

The 25-year-old, 190cm guard who plays for the Shanghai Sharks came to the attention of Australian officials in August when he was part of China's team at a Four-Nations Tournament.

He was offered, and accepted, a spot on the World All-Star team - the first international player invited to play in the annual match-up between Australia's best home-grown players and imports.

His inclusion will see the All-Star game broadcast into millions of households in China where basketball is the biggest participant sport and Liu and his mate Yao Ming are major celebrities.

New Sydney Kings chief executive Simon Allatson confirmed his club was looking at the possibility of adding a Chinese player to its roster and would monitor Liu during the All-Star game.

Allatson said the Kings had employed the nephew of the Shanghai Sharks CEO to help establish links with China and the Chinese community in Australia.

"He is an enormous addition to the All-Star game. We have Chinese TV falling all over themselves to broadcast the game," Allatson said.

While Liu is best friends with Yao Ming, the former No.1 draft pick and China's biggest sporting star, his bid to become the first Asian guard to make it in the NBA failed last year when he was released by the Sacramento Kings.

(The Daily Telegraph, November 22, 2005)