| No. 94 – Shanghai Sharks | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| League | CBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1994-01-20)January 20, 1994 (age 31) Fuzhou,Fujian, China |
| Listed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
| Listed weight | 270 lb (122 kg) |
| Career information | |
| NBA draft | 2016: 2nd round, 57th overall pick |
| Selected by theMemphis Grizzlies | |
| Playing career | 2012–present |
| Career history | |
| 2012–2021 | Fujian Sturgeons |
| 2021–present | Shanghai Sharks |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Stats atBasketball Reference  | |
| Wang Zhelin | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 王哲林 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Wang Zhelin (Chinese:王哲林, pronounced[wǎŋ ʈʂɤ̌lǐn]; born January 20, 1994) is a Chinesebasketball player for theShanghai Sharks in theChinese Basketball Association. He was drafted in the second round (57th overall) in the2016 NBA draft by theMemphis Grizzlies.
 | This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(June 2024) |
Wang Zhelin first gained recognition in March 2012 when he was selected to theChinese national team's preliminary squad for the2012 Summer Olympics though he did not make the final squad. In April 2012, Wang was chosen to play at theNike Hoop Summit and he impressed many by scoring 19 points, 8 rebounds, and blocking 2 shots in an 84–75 victory against the U.S. men's junior select team.[1] This was the best all-time performance by any Chinese player in the Nike Hoop Summit.
Wang then signed his first professional contract with theFujian Sturgeons of theChinese Basketball Association in June 2012, prior to the2012–13 season.[2] In his first professional season, Wang averaged 20.3 points and 12.9 rebounds per game for Fujian. His second season with Fujian saw him put up a career-high 22.8 points per game. His injury-derailed fourth season saw him produce career-low averages of 10 points, 6 rebounds and 0.4 blocks in 21.3 minutes of average action.
In 2018, he played in the2018 NBA Summer League as a member of theChina men's national basketball team. In the first game, the Chinese team lost to theIndiana Pacers by a score of 56–36.[3] In the second game, Wang faced off against fellow Chinese playerZhou Qi and theHouston Rockets, losing 78–66.[4][5][6]
In the third game, Wang scored six points in the Chinese team's 73–72 loss to theSacramento Kings.[7][8] In the fourth game, the China men's national basketball team won its first game, 68–42, against theWashington Wizards. Wang did not play in this game due to illness.[9] In the last game, the China team beat theDetroit Pistons by a score of 66–62. In this series, China won two games and lost three games, but Wang did not play all of these games due to illness.
In 2018-2019 CBA regular season, Wang reached career high of 25.7 PPG and 13.9 RPG on 54% shooting and led his team to the 2nd round of theCBA playoffs. Wang also received the 2018-2019 CBA Regular season MVP for this first time.
Wang was selected late in the second round of the2016 NBA draft by theMemphis Grizzlies as the 57th pick.[10] Fellow countrymanZhou Qi was selected with the 43rd pick by theHouston Rockets, the second time two Chinese prospects were selected in an NBA draft (the first time being in2007 withYi Jianlian andSun Yue). However, Wang would not immediately join the Grizzlies, instead returning with Fujian for the following season to develop.[11]
On September 10, 2021, Wang's NBA draft rights were traded to theLos Angeles Lakers forMarc Gasol, a 2024 second–round pick, and cash.[12]
On January 3, 2022, his draft rights were moved again, this time to theNew York Knicks, as part of a three-team deal with the Lakers and theCleveland Cavaliers.[13]
Wang played for theChinese national team at the2015 FIBA Asia Championship played in China. Coming off the bench, he participated in China's romp to the title and qualification for the2016 Olympics.
In 2018, Wang played unofficial practice games with2018 NBA Summer League teams as a member of theChina men's national basketball team. In the first game, theChina men's national basketball team lost 36–56 against theIndiana Pacers.[14]
In the second game, Wang played against fellow Chinese national team memberHouston Rockets named Zhou Qi, and theChina men's national basketball team lost 66–78 against theHouston Rockets.[15][16][17]
In the third game, Wang scored three points and theChina men's national basketball team lost 72–73 against theSacramento Kings.[18][19]
In the fourth game, the China men's national basketball team earned their first win of the summer, a 68–42 triumph over theWashington Wizards. Wang did not play in this game due to illness.[20]
In the last game of the series, China won 66–62 against theDetroit Pistons.
In August 2018, he played for China at the Asian Games. In the first game, China won 82–80, and Wang scored 13 points. In the end, he helped China win the 2018 Asian Games.[21][22]
Wang was included inChina's squad for the2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualification.[23]
| Year | Team | GP | RPG | APG | FG% | FT% | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–13 | Fujian | 32 | 12.9 | 1.3 | .531 | .627 | 20.3 |
| 2013–14 | Fujian | 34 | 11.4 | 1.1 | .586 | .732 | 22.8 |
| 2014–15 | Fujian | 37 | 11.5 | 1.7 | .607 | .668 | 21.6 |
| 2015–16 | Fujian | 9 | 6.0 | 1.1 | .522 | .667 | 11.3 |
| 2016–17 | Fujian | 32 | 11.1 | 2.2 | .578 | .639 | 21.8 |
| 2017–18 | Fujian | 27 | 11.0 | 1.9 | .603 | .643 | 20.7 |
| 2018–19 | Fujian | 46 | 13.9 | 2.3 | .547 | .651 | 25.7 |
