The Fifth Chinese in History! Wang Zhizhi Inducted into FIBA Hall of Fame: Thanks to the Nation, the Military, and His Parents

On April 22 Beijing time, Chinese basketball legend Wang Zhizhi officially attended the induction ceremony for the FIBA Hall of Fame, becoming the fifth Chinese player to receive this honor, alongside international stars like Dirk Nowitzki and Sue Bird in basketball history. At the ceremony, Wang Zhizhi delivered speeches in both English and Chinese.

After stepping onto the stage, Wang Zhizhi first spoke in English: "Hello, dear friends. I am very happy to be here. I thank my country for giving me the opportunity to join the national team, and I also thank my coaches and teammates. For example, Dirk (Nowitzki), we shared many wonderful memories in Dallas. They provided me with tremendous support. I also thank FIBA for giving me the chance to come here."

Later, Wang Zhizhi spoke in Chinese: "As a Chinese player, I deeply understand that without the nation's nurturing, I would not have achieved what I have today. Whenever I wore the national team jersey and fought on the court, the mission of winning glory for the country drove me forward. I want to thank the military for its training; I not only learned how to play basketball well but also how to be a person. The military taught me an iron will, the never-give-up spirit of the August 1st team, and strict discipline, enabling me to persevere and strive hard on the court, and to face difficulties. Finally, I thank my parents. As basketball players themselves, they gave me the chance to接触接触 basketball from a young age. They were not only my first coaches but also my eternal role models in my heart. They made me understand that basketball is not just a sport, but also a passion, a belief. This honor belongs to Chinese basketball and to all those who have contributed to Chinese basketball. Let us continue to contribute our strength and efforts to the development of Chinese basketball, and hope more young Chinese players can shine on the world stage. Thank you all."

Late last year, FIBA officially announced the 2026 FIBA Hall of Fame list, with Chinese basketball veteran Wang Zhizhi入选入选. He became the fifth Chinese player inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame, following Mou Zuoyun, Zheng Haixia, Yao Ming, and Miao Lijie.

Wang Zhizhi twice won the FIBA Asia Cup championship (2001 and 2011), participated in four Olympic Games (1996, 2000, 2008, 2012) and two Men's Basketball World Cups (2006, 2010). He was also the first Chinese player to enter the NBA.

The specific list for the 2026 FIBA Hall of Fame is as follows—

Players:

China Wang Zhizhi

Germany Dirk Nowitzki

USA Sue Bird

Turkey Hedo Turkoglu

France Céline Dumerc

Mozambique Clarisse Machanguana

Coaches:

Poland Ludwik Mięta-Mikołajewicz