User:Pksevans/Zhang Songtao

Zhang Songtao is a 7'0, 280 pound professional basketball player for the Beijing Aoshen Olympians in China. He is widely believed to be one of the next Chinese basketball players to make it in the NBA.

Born 6/17/1985, the 24 year old has drastically improved his game over the past few years. A late developer when it comes to basketball "skills", Zhang was once considered to weak or too slow to make it in the NBA. Over the past few years, playing in international leagues from all around the world he has started to change scouts opinions of him. He has already played in the NBA Summer League in Vegas twice, once with the New York Knicks and once with the Chinese National Team, but now teams are looking at Zhang like a true NBA prospect. Zhang has GREATLY improved since playing with the Knicks in 08 where he averaged 10 min/game, 2.0 points/game and 2.2 rebounds.

He is truly intimidating when it comes to stature. While a youngster, playing in the ABA league with Aoshen Olympians gave him valuable experience learning American basketball, Zhang has achieved great progress in every aspect, especially his psychological game; he fears nothing now. To his every opponent, Zhang is a dangerous guy. He has added additional weight without sacrificing his athleticism. Zhang has the unique ability at his size to be able to put the ball on the floor, shoot it from the outside, and is one of the best passer’s in the world in relation to big men. His head coach, former NBA Laker Mike McGee fully believes that Zhang is an NBA player without any question in his mind. There just aren’t a lot of big men in the world that has all the attributes that he has. He truly deserves a shot in the NBA. He currently plays for Aoshen Olympians in Chengdu, China with teammate, former NBA player Sun Yue.