7-foot-9 native of China begins basketball career with Dodge City

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, May 7, 2006 by Joshua Kinder

"When I started, it was like 'I should play basketball,'" said Sun, who wears a size 19 shoe and a 7XL basketball jersey. "But once I got into it, I started to fall in love with the sport. It's just like students who at first went to school because they should, not because they liked it or wanted to, but when they get into it, they may like it more.

"That's how basketball was for me."

So far, his venture into professional basketball hasn't been all that smooth. Sun didn't see any action in the Legend's season opener at home against the Nebraska Cranes, despite the nearly 1,700 fans who showed up to see his debut.

However, Sun did see his first action on Dodge City's East Coast road trip, including 17 minutes of play during the Legend's comeback victory over the Brooklyn Kings last Sunday.

He's yet to score a point and has just one rebound eight games into the season, but he blocked three shots in his five minutes of playing time last Saturday.

"I've said this from the beginning, from day one, that he's come a long way, but that he's got a long way to go," Osbourne said. "I think people need to understand that. But we're going to use him. I just don't want him to feel that we have him here because he's 7- foot-9.

"He's not here to sit the bench. We're going to pick and choose the spots to get him in and use him when he can be the most successful and help this team win games."

Osbourne said the chance to coach Sun is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"I was very excited when we signed him," he said. "It's not every day as a basketball coach that you have a chance to work with a guy like Sun. It's a great opportunity to help him grow as a basketball player and help me grow as a coach. I've learned a lot already."

Helping Sun succeed

Everyone around Sun knows that he wants to follow in the footsteps of another former USBL player to make it in the NBA, 7- foot-7 Manute Bol, and nobody wants to see him succeed more than his teammates.

"The camaraderie has been real neat," Salscheider said. "Each one of us has wanted to help him succeed and see him do well. We make sure that he understands exactly where he's supposed to be on the floor and if he's not doing something quite right, we explain that to him as well."

Salscheider said he's especially seen the camaraderie between Sun and his teammates who have played in professional leagues overseas.

"The guys that have been in similar situations where they're faced with a different language, different culture and a different setting are taking a special interest in trying to help him out any way possible," said Salscheider, who has played in Australia and Europe.

So if not Dodge City and his NBA dreams - or even the game of basketball - what would Sun be doing?

He says he has "never thought about it."

Joshua Kinder can be reached at joshua.kinder@dodgeglobe.com.