Sun Mingming
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 23, 1983 Dayan, China |
| Nationality | China |
| Listed height | 7 ft 9 in (2.36 m) |
| Listed weight | 370 lb (168 kg) |
| Position | Center |
Template:Chinese name Sun Ming Ming (simplified Chinese: 孙明明; traditional Chinese: 孫明明; pinyin: Sūn Míngmíng, born on August 23, 1983) is a Chinese basketball player. He was born in a small town called Dayan, near Harbin, China, in the Heilongjiang province, and is 7'9" (236 cm), 370 pounds (168 kg).[1] He is the tallest player ever to play pro basketball. [2]
Basketball Career
Sun did not start playing basketball until he was 15, when he was 6'7",[3] but he came to the United States in early 2005 to train for a possible NBA career. Sun was declared eligible in the 2005 NBA Draft, and had a brief tryout with the Lakers,[4] but was not selected.
It was later determined through medical exams that the cause of his lack of endurance is a benign brain tumor attached to his pituitary gland that is stifling gonadotrophin releasing hormone production. It is also stimulating over-production of growth hormone, a condition known as acromegaly, and can lead to premature death if not removed. Surgery was scheduled for August 31 2005, but since Sun had neither health insurance nor enough money to pay for the more than $100,000 in medical bills, it was re-scheduled and Sun's agent, Charles Bonsignore, started a fund raiser to raise the necessary funds.
After the surgery, Sun was signed by USBL team Dodge City Legend in Dodge City, Kansas on March 30, 2006. [1]
On January 31, 2007, he signed with the Maryland Nighthawks of the American Basketball Association.[5]. Owner Tom Doyle said "having Ming here sells tickets". On March 11, Sun was a part of the tallest lineup in the world, a Guinness World Record, with four players over 7-foot. [6]
On June 20, 2007 Sun signed with Mexican Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional professional team Fuerza Regia from Monterrey, his arrival to the city caused expectancy and it is stated that he will begin to play on September, when the season starts.
Public Appearances
Sun has made various television appearances, including on the Jimmy Kimmel Live show on ABC on October 11th, 2006. Sun Ming Ming is also the subject of a documentary television show, "Anatomy of a Giant," which was originally broadcasted on the Discovery Health Channel on October 15, 2006.
He also filmed a fight scene with actors Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan in the upcoming film Rush Hour 3. [7]
References
- ^ a b Kinder, Joshua. "Legend Signs World's Seventh Tallest Man". Retrieved 2007-04-30.
- ^ Becker, Bob (2007). "7-Foot-9-Inch Player Manages To Handle Height, Foreign Culture". Retrieved 2007-04-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Sierra, Jorge (January 15, 2006). "Sun Ming Ming: "The NBA is a realistic goal"". Times Online. Retrieved 2007-04-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Yan, Wang (February 2, 2007). "Towering Sun joins ABA's Maryland Nighthawks". Xinhau. Retrieved 2007-04-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Maryland Nighthawks officially sign 7'9" Sun Ming Ming". January 31, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "World Record Game End with Wild Finish, Nighthawks Win 132-128". March 11, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Vineyard, Jennifer (January 18, 2007). "Chris Tucker, Jackie Chan In For Giant Surprise In 'Rush Hour 3'". MTV. Retrieved 2007-04-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)