Mengke Bateer
Encyclopedia
Mengke Bateer or Menk Batere , commonly referred to simply as Bateer, is a Chinese professional basketball
player, formerly in the NBA
. He currently plays center
for Xinjiang Guanghui.
Bateer is an ethnic minority from China's Inner Mongolia region. Like many other ethnic Mongols
, he does not have a family name, and his full name is a composition of two words: Mönkh (Eternal) and Baatar (Hero). In China, he is only referred to as "Ba Te Er" in the country's tradition. In China, Bateer is sometimes affectionately called "Da Ba"(大巴).
At 210 cm and 132 kg, Bateer is a strong center who is an accomplished screen-setter and passer (having dished out 6 assists
in one NBA game, on March 30, 2002, against the Chicago Bulls
). However, he is severely hindered by his lack of speed.
, Bateer made his debut for China's basketball team
in the 1994 Asian Games, aged 19. Three years later, although a regular fixture, he was cut from the team after "disciplinary problems". A filial son, Bateer had several times in his career attempted to voluntarily leave his teams to be back in his hometown with his family.
In 1999, while training with the national team, Bateer was invited to play in a pre-draft tournament held in Phoenix
, where he suffered from jet lag and did not impress. He also made a short appearance in another pre-draft venue, in Treviso
, Italy
.
In October 2001, Bateer joined the Denver Nuggets
in the side's preseason training camp. He was cut after 2 preseason games, but in April, already deep into the season, he would join the team again, as the Nuggets were in desperate need of a big man after trading Raef LaFrentz
.
Bateer played the remaining 25 games, averaging 5.5 points while battling foul problems. Because of the shortage of the big men on the Nuggets, he ended up starting 10 out of those games, and became the first Chinese player to ever start an NBA game, as the first to join the competition, Wang Zhizhi
, never started while with the Dallas Mavericks
.
In the summer of 2002, Bateer was traded to the Detroit Pistons
with Don Reid, for Rodney White
and a future first-round pick. However, after an impressive showing against Team USA in the 2002 World Championships
in Indianapolis
, where he scored 19 (also leading China in scoring 5 out of 7 games in the tournament), for a team that already included recently drafted
Yao Ming
, American assistant coach Gregg Popovich
, of the San Antonio Spurs
, decided to take a chance at Bateer and dealt for him for a second-round pick. Internationally, the trio of 7'1" Wang Zhizhi, 7' 6" Yao Ming and Bateer were known as the "Walking Great Wall".
Although playing occasionally, Bateer was a member of the Spurs' 2002–03 championship team. The following season, he signed as a free agent with the Toronto Raptors
. He was later traded by the Raptors to the Orlando Magic
who would waive him just 3 days later. In October 2004, the New York Knicks
signed Bateer as a training camp invite. He was waived prior to the start of the 2004-05 NBA season
.
After being waived by the Knicks, Bateer played for the Huntsville Flight
of the National Basketball Development League for a while. He rejoined the Ducks, in the Chinese Basketball Association
, in mid-February 2005, a couple of weeks before the end of the 2004–05 regular season, also being named MVP of the 2005 All-Star Game.
After carrying the Ducks team to a franchise-best CBA North Division title while averaging 25 points, 11 rebounds
and 5 assists, Bateer failed to receive the season's MVP due to a rule forbidding suspended players from any awards (in mid-season, he received the heaviest fine in the competition's history for arguing with a referee and sat out two games as a result). Bateer played for the team until the end of 2006–07, being traded to fellow league team Xinjiang Guanghui.
Bateer has ventured into acting in recent years.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, formerly in the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. He currently plays center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
for Xinjiang Guanghui.
Bateer is an ethnic minority from China's Inner Mongolia region. Like many other ethnic Mongols
Ethnic Mongols in China
Mongols in China are citizens of the People's Republic of China who are ethnic Mongols. They form one of the 55 ethnic minorities officially recognized by the People's Republic of China. There are approximately 5.8 million ethnic Mongols living in China. Most of them live in Inner Mongolia,...
, he does not have a family name, and his full name is a composition of two words: Mönkh (Eternal) and Baatar (Hero). In China, he is only referred to as "Ba Te Er" in the country's tradition. In China, Bateer is sometimes affectionately called "Da Ba"(大巴).
At 210 cm and 132 kg, Bateer is a strong center who is an accomplished screen-setter and passer (having dished out 6 assists
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
in one NBA game, on March 30, 2002, against the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
). However, he is severely hindered by his lack of speed.
Basketball career
As a member of the Beijing DucksBeijing Ducks
Beijing Jinyu Ducks or Beijing Ducks or Beijing Jinyu is a basketball team in the North Division of the Chinese Basketball Association, based in Beijing. They were formerly known as the Beijing Shougang Ducks or Beijing Shougang; the name change was likely due to a change of corporate sponsorship...
, Bateer made his debut for China's basketball team
China national basketball team
The Chinese men's national basketball team is the basketball team representing China in international competitions. The governing body of Chinese basketball operations is the Basketball Association of China...
in the 1994 Asian Games, aged 19. Three years later, although a regular fixture, he was cut from the team after "disciplinary problems". A filial son, Bateer had several times in his career attempted to voluntarily leave his teams to be back in his hometown with his family.
In 1999, while training with the national team, Bateer was invited to play in a pre-draft tournament held in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, where he suffered from jet lag and did not impress. He also made a short appearance in another pre-draft venue, in Treviso
Treviso
Treviso is a city and comune in Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Treviso and the municipality has 82,854 inhabitants : some 3,000 live within the Venetian walls or in the historical and monumental center, some 80,000 live in the urban center proper, while the city...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
In October 2001, Bateer joined the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
in the side's preseason training camp. He was cut after 2 preseason games, but in April, already deep into the season, he would join the team again, as the Nuggets were in desperate need of a big man after trading Raef LaFrentz
Raef LaFrentz
Raef Andrew LaFrentz is a retired American professional basketball power forward and center who played in the NBA from 1998 to 2009. Born and raised in Iowa, LaFrentz attended the University of Kansas and was drafted in 1998 by the Denver Nuggets...
.
Bateer played the remaining 25 games, averaging 5.5 points while battling foul problems. Because of the shortage of the big men on the Nuggets, he ended up starting 10 out of those games, and became the first Chinese player to ever start an NBA game, as the first to join the competition, Wang Zhizhi
Wang Zhizhi
Wang Zhizhi is a Chinese professional basketball player. He is a former player in the National Basketball Association.Wang is 214 cm tall. Wang's father Wang Weijun and mother Ren Huanzhen were both basketball players...
, never started while with the Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
.
In the summer of 2002, Bateer was traded to the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
with Don Reid, for Rodney White
Rodney White
Rodney Charles White is an American professional basketball player currently playing in South Korea for the Anyang KGC Pro Basketball Club...
and a future first-round pick. However, after an impressive showing against Team USA in the 2002 World Championships
2002 FIBA World Championship
The 2002 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball tournament held by the International Basketball Federation in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA from August 29 to September 8, 2002.-Venues:-Squads:...
in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, where he scored 19 (also leading China in scoring 5 out of 7 games in the tournament), for a team that already included recently drafted
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
Yao Ming
Yao Ming
Yao Ming is a retired Chinese professional basketball player who last played for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association...
, American assistant coach Gregg Popovich
Gregg Popovich
Gregg Popovich is an American basketball coach, and is currently the head coach of the National Basketball Association's San Antonio Spurs. With the resignation of Jerry Sloan as head coach of the Utah Jazz on February 10, 2011, Popovich is the longest tenured coach in the NBA and also the...
, of the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
, decided to take a chance at Bateer and dealt for him for a second-round pick. Internationally, the trio of 7'1" Wang Zhizhi, 7' 6" Yao Ming and Bateer were known as the "Walking Great Wall".
Although playing occasionally, Bateer was a member of the Spurs' 2002–03 championship team. The following season, he signed as a free agent with the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
. He was later traded by the Raptors to the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
who would waive him just 3 days later. In October 2004, the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
signed Bateer as a training camp invite. He was waived prior to the start of the 2004-05 NBA season
2004-05 NBA season
The 2004–05 NBA season was the 59th season of the National Basketball Association . It began on November 2, 2004 and ended June 23, 2005. The season ended with the San Antonio Spurs defeating defending champion Detroit Pistons 4–3 in the NBA Finals....
.
After being waived by the Knicks, Bateer played for the Huntsville Flight
Huntsville Flight
The Huntsville Flight was a National Basketball Development League team based in Huntsville, Alabama. Playing their home games at the Von Braun Center, the Flight was a charter franchise for the 2001-02 season but folded after the 2004-05 season...
of the National Basketball Development League for a while. He rejoined the Ducks, in the Chinese Basketball Association
Chinese Basketball Association
The Chinese Basketball Association , often abbreviated to the CBA, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in China.The league is commonly known as the CBA, and this acronym is often used even in Chinese...
, in mid-February 2005, a couple of weeks before the end of the 2004–05 regular season, also being named MVP of the 2005 All-Star Game.
After carrying the Ducks team to a franchise-best CBA North Division title while averaging 25 points, 11 rebounds
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
and 5 assists, Bateer failed to receive the season's MVP due to a rule forbidding suspended players from any awards (in mid-season, he received the heaviest fine in the competition's history for arguing with a referee and sat out two games as a result). Bateer played for the team until the end of 2006–07, being traded to fellow league team Xinjiang Guanghui.
Bateer has ventured into acting in recent years.
Filmography
| Year | English Title | Original Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 2005 in film - Highest-grossing films :Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top-grossing films that were first released in the United States in 2005... |
The Blue Xanadu | 蔚藍色的杭蓋 | Yela | |
| 2009 2009 in film The year 2009 saw the release of many films. Seven made the top 50 list of highest-grossing films, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that as of this year, their Best Picture category would consist of ten nominees, rather than five .- Highest-grossing films :Please note... |
Bodyguards and Assassins Bodyguards and Assassins Bodyguards and Assassins is a 2009 Hong Kong film directed by Teddy Chan, featuring an all-star cast, including Donnie Yen, Nicholas Tse, Tony Leung Ka-fai, Leon Lai, Wang Xueqi, Simon Yam, Hu Jun, Eric Tsang and Fan Bingbing.-Plot:... |
十月圍城 | Wang Fuming | |
| 2010 2010 in film The year 2010 saw many new films released worldwide. 2010 saw a dramatic increase and prominence in the use of 3D-technology in filmmaking and film releases after the success of Avatar in the format, with releases such as Alice in Wonderland, Clash of the Titans, Jackass 3D, all animated films and... |
Here Comes Fortune | 財神到 | Gong hitter | cameo |