CBA gives go-ahead to Bateer to play NBA summer league
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2003-07-04 17:18

The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) has given go-ahead to Menk Bateer to play the NBA summer league with San Antonio Spurs, reports said on Friday.
Bateer's agent Xia Song asked for CBA's approval after the Spurs sent an invitation on Thursday to the 2.10-meter center to the upcoming summer league, the Beijing Star Daily said.
"Though I haven't received any formal request from Xia, the CBA has approved it in principle, because we had discussed this matter days before," the newspaper quoted CBA vice president Hu Jiashi as saying.
Bateer, whose contract with the Spurs expired at the end of last season, didn't play the playoff season but still won a champion's ring when the Spurs were crowned NBA champions in June.
"The invitation gives a hint that the Spurs are considering extending the contract with Bateer," Xia was quoted as saying by the newspapers.
"But the team need to watch him in the summer league," he added.