Chinese basketballer Liu Wei, described by Aussie media as "one of the faces of the 2008 Beijing Olympics", will play NBL All-Star game.

Australian media has hailed the appearance of Chinese basketballer Liu Wei at the Aussie league NBL All-Star game scheduled for Tuesday night.

Newspaper, The Australian, calls Liu Wei "One of the faces of the 2008 Beijing Olympics".

The paper noted, the 25-year-old, 190cm point guard from Shanghai has accepted a wildcard entry to play against Australia's best in the glamour event.

Liu is as big a sporting hero at home as national teammate Yao Ming, the starting center with the Houston Rockets.

A five-time All Star selection in the Chinese league, Liu will share ball-handling duties in a five-guard rotation alongside other foreign stars playing at the NBL.

"Lui is one of the world's truly talented international players," NBL commissioner Rick Burton said.

"It is the first time a current Chinese national team player has been allowed to play in an All Star side outside of his country. This is a huge step forward for Asian basketball."

But Liu's appearance in Sydney could be the first of many, with the Perth Wildcats and the Kings hoping to sign the dashing point guard for next season.

Talks between the Wildcats and Shanghai Sharks is underway since the negotiation opened a year ago and Wildcats are confident that they will have the Shanghai player.

(The Australian via CRI December 27, 2005)