(AFP) – Feb 23, 2008

BEIJING (AFP) — Former NBA centre Wang Zhizhi has admitted to hitting a motorist as a late-night Beijing traffic brawl got out of hand, state media reported Sunday.

Wang, who has made a comeback in the Chinese leagues since returning from the United States in 2006, allegedly got involved in the argument when driving a car with his father late Friday, the Beijing News tabloid reported.

The paper did not provide details about the cause of the argument, but said Wang had acknowledged hitting the other driver, apologised and offered to pay the medical bill.

Both the Beijing News and other Chinese papers carried photos allegedly showing Wang's father being driven home in a police car early Saturday, his head covered in a jacket to avoid the photographers.

The paper quoted Bayi Rockets coach Adi Jiang as saying he had heard about the incident, but was not informed about the details.

Wang, measuring 2.12 metres (seven feet), became China's first player to make the leap to the NBA in 2001, paving the way for the likes of Yao Ming, now a superstar with the Houston Rockets.

However, his NBA experience ended in bitterness after four seasons spent mostly on the bench for the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers and Miami Heat.

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