After weeks of talk and speculation, ex-NBA player Bonzi Wells has signed a one-year contract with Shanxi zhongyu of the Chinese Basketball Association.  The 32-year old from Ball State was just in the NBA last season playing along Yao Ming on the Houston Rockets (before being traded to the New Orleans Hornets). The details of the contract are undisclosed. (discuss)

Bonzi Wells has played for five different NBA teams (Portland, Memphis, Sacramento, Houston, New Orleans) over his 10-year career.  During his career, the physical, stout Wells averaged 12.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.2 steals.

NBA and China
This is the second former-Houston Rocket that has moved on to play in China, the other being Kirk Snyder, whom signed a contract Zhejiang Cyclones this summer.

Though Shanxi Zhongyu and the Zhejiang Cyclones are not basketball powerhouses in the CBA, such as former champions Bayi Rockets, the Shanghai Sharks, or Guangdong Southern Tiger, these two signings are a sign of further progress for the Chinese Basketball Association, whom is trying to move away from old-school way of thought and welcoming foreigners.

And by signing NBA players to one of the two spots allotted for foreign players, the CBA is not only becoming more competitive, but is great publicity for a league in a region many professional players from overseas don’t even consider as their third or fourth option.  And the fans of Shanxi and Zheijiang are familiar with Bonzi Wells and Snyder, likely having seen them play alongside Yao Ming.

In addition to these signings, the CBA plans to allow an NBL team (Australian) compete in the Chinese league and will do away with a current rule limiting playing time for foreign-born players beginning next season.

The coming together of the CBA and NBA is inevitable, as David Stern has had it’s eye on the country with 1.3 billion potential fans, “We will see in the next couple of years, coming out of the Beijing Olympics, the possibility of some (kind of) joint venture between the NBA and the sports administration and the CBA (Chinese Basketball Association) in China,” Stern said. “I think someday… a CBA-NBA league in China is attainable.”

Wells will team with another former-NBA player in Olumide Oyedeji in hopes of continuing Shanxi Zhongyu’s best season in the CBA.  After being one of the worst teams last season, Shanxi is currently in sixth place (out of 16 teams) with a 7-4 record.

Over the last few weeks, Wells management agency had told the Muncie Star Press that they were in contact with many NBA teams as well as teams in Spain and in China.  Though there was speculation that Wells had no interest overseas, it was confirmed that previous to signing with Shanxi, Wells had turned down an offer from a Spanish club.

Links and Resources: Bonzi Wells joins CBA with Shanxi Zhongyu (Xinhuanet), Sky is the Limit for NBA in China (China Daily), Bonzi talks include NBA, as well as teams from Spain, China (Star Press)