Preface
When it comes to the first person in the NBA in Asia, I believe that Wang Zhizhi's name will appear in many people's minds.
However, Wang Zhizhi is indeed the first Chinese player to play in the NBA, but he is not the first Chinese player to be selected by the NBA.
NBA
If you really want to find the first Chinese player to be drafted into the NBA, that person must be Song Tao, the man Yao Ming calls Big Brother.
If it weren't for the injury that year, he had to withdraw from the game, maybe he would be the first person in the Chinese men's basketball team now!
What happened to Song Tao back then, and what happened to him now?
Song Tao and Yao Ming
A basketball player who almost switched to high jump
In 1965, Song Tao was born in a relatively ordinary family in Shandong, although his father was a basketball coach and his mother's job was not bad.
They can get a good salary every month, but they still can't change the status quo of the family, and his aunt still needs help to support it, which leads to their family's life is not relaxed, but their parents still give the best to Song Tao.
Song Tao
When he was young, he often watched his father teach other students to practice, and slowly Song Tao fell in love with this sport and practiced Xi with his father.
Over time, combined with his long hours of basketball training, his height grew rapidly.
Song Tao
When Song Tao was 14 years old, his height was far beyond ordinary people, and because of this, he was sent to a sports school, began systematic training, and focused on basketball.
In terms of basketball training, he has shown outstanding abilities, especially in terms of bounce power, and it is said that he can reach a maximum of 3.69 meters in touch height.
Touching height (scene simulation)
It is precisely because of this that he was taken a fancy by a passing high jump coach and hoped that he could come to practice Xi high jump, but Song Tao did not hesitate at all, so he politely refused the other party.
Song Tao
Because for him, basketball is his dream, and he fights for it.
After that, he put all his mind on basketball, and in only about 3 years, he was promoted from the sports school all the way to the provincial team, and was successfully selected for the national team.
Song Tao
At this time, Song Tao was only 18 years old, and he could be regarded as the youngest player in the national team, which also represents a recognition of his strength.
The 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, the first Olympic Games since the founding of the People's Republic of China, has special significance for the development of China's sports.
Song Tao
Of course, Song Tao is no exception, he is extremely looking forward to the coming of this Olympic Games, and when the list of participants in the Olympic Games was announced, Song Tao saw his name.
At this time, he was only 19 years old, and he was in the midst of his personal upward trajectory, and if he had successfully conducted an Olympic Games, it would play an important role in his future career development.
Los Angeles 1988
He received his jersey with great anticipation, and the first thing he did when he got home was to change into his clothes and look in the mirror.
Song Tao is coaching the women's basketball team
But he didn't get his wish, and his name was deleted from the final list.
And that's because there is a veteran player who has temporarily found the head coach of the basketball team, and he hopes that he can participate in an Olympics before retiring, so that he is satisfied.
So, the head coach had to find Song Tao and tell him about it, hoping that Song Tao could understand this behavior.
Song Tao
Even if he was unhappy, his name was still deleted from the final list of participants, but the name of the veteran appeared in it, which became the regret of Song Tao's life.
Song Tao
The first Chinese player to be drafted into the NBA
In 1985, the Chinese men's basketball team flew to the United States, and played a game with 7 teams in the NBA one by one.
But in the Chinese team's game against the Bulls, Song Tao played extraordinarily, and at the end of the game, both teams selected the best players, namely Jordan and Song Tao, who were also invited by the organizers to take a group photo.
Song Tao and Jordan
In 1986, at the World Championships in Spain, Song Tao seemed to be venting his frustration about not letting him participate in the Olympic Games, crazy blocks and dunks, which once stunned the players of the opposite team, and they couldn't believe that the Chinese player in front of them was so "crazy".
That year, with the help of Song Tao, the Chinese men's basketball team won the ninth place, which was also the best result won by the Chinese men's basketball team at that time.
It was also in this battle that the United States noticed Song Tao, discovered his excellence, and wanted to invite him to play in the NBA.
Song Tao
In the 1987 NBA Draft, Song Tao was selected by the Hawks with the 67th pick in the third round.
But Song Tao didn't know the news that he was selected at that time, and by the time he knew about it, the Eagles had already sent the contract and jersey to the National Sports Commission.
Eagles jersey
Although the contract period is only 1 year, Song Tao was still ecstatic after reading it, he excitedly signed his name on it, and the entire sports team was happy for him.
Song Tao poster
If he followed the normal script, he would have become the first Asian player to play in the NBA, and even if he played well, his name would still spread all over the world, but fate played a big joke on him at this time!
Two months after joining the Eagles, he joined the team at the World University Games.
Song Tao
Song Tao was unusually excited, like a chicken blood, but he was a little too excited, and in the first round, the accident still happened......
Seeing that the opponent was in the process of making a layup, Song Tao rushed over and jumped up, wanting to give the opponent a block, he did it, but his career also seemed to have reached its peak.
With a bang, he collided with the player, and then he lost his balance and fell to the ground, his kneecap shattered into a dozen pieces and sunk into it.
Comminuted fracture of the knee (scenario simulation)
Song Tao was sent to Beijing for surgery as soon as possible, but he did not give up his yearning for the NBA, but the accident happened to him again.
About 100 days after the operation, he accidentally fell while going to the toilet, causing his knee, which had not recovered, to be injured again, and this time it was ten.
Song Tao
The Eagles could only give up Song Tao, because no one could say whether he could stand on the court now.
Song Tao could only reluctantly give up his beloved NBA career, although he was unwilling, but at most he was full of helplessness, but he did not give up basketball because of this, but developed in another direction.
Song Tao
Try to make up for your regrets
In 1988, Song Tao has gradually come out of the shadow of pain, although it is still noon and can not stand on the court, but he can make up for his regrets in another way.
Song Tao and the team
So, he began to use his understanding of the NBA and began to popularize NBA-related knowledge for the Chinese people in the "Xinmin Evening News".
That year, he also appeared at the Seoul Olympics as he wished, and this was the only Olympics he participated in, but he did not participate as a competitor, but as the flag bearer of the Chinese delegation.
Song Tao, above the Seoul Olympics
In the years that followed, he went to Taiwan to play, and although he suffered a knee injury, his ability is still unspeakable, and few people here can defend against him.
It was not until 2000 that he officially chose to retire, ending his "sad" basketball career and staying at National Taiwan University to teach.
Song Tao
During this period, he also met his wife Peng Ping, and the two entered the palace of marriage together in 1993, and then the two of them came to Taiwan to develop their basketball careers.
In 2003, the couple returned to their hometown with their eldest daughter and returned to a place they were familiar with.
At that time, Song Tao was 2.08 meters, and his wife also played basketball, her height was 1.88 meters, and their daughter had already shown amazing talent in height at a very young age.
Song Tao's family
After seeing it, the people around him thought that if he gave birth to a boy, he would definitely be higher, and if it went well, he would inherit Song Tao's basketball dream.
Unfortunately, the couple had two more children, but they were all girls.
Although Song Tao's basketball dream was shattered, he was not discouraged, but showed his greatest fatherly love to these three lovely daughters and did his best to care for them.
Song Taohe led the women's basketball team to win the award
Today, Song Tao is shining in his career, but he has never forgotten two things, one is charity, and the other is basketball.
In terms of charity, he has donated more than 10 million yuan and helped many families in need.
Song Tao
In basketball, he and his wife co-founded a women's basketball team, which is even well-known in the local area.
Maybe you can't realize your basketball dream in person, so you can train batch after batch of excellent players to fulfill this dream for yourself.
Song Tao and the players
epilogue
For Song Tao, if he had chosen to give up when he was injured, then we may only know that there was once a basketball player named Song Tao.
But he was unwilling to submit to his fate, and dared to fight back against these difficulties.
Today, 59-year-old Song Tao is still thinking about Chinese basketball in his heart, and continues to give back to the society with his own strength!
Song Tao and Yao Ming