Hu Weidong

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Hu.

Hu Weidong (simplified Chinese: 胡卫东; traditional Chinese: 胡衛東; pinyin: Hú Wèidōng; born January 3, 1970 in Xuzhou, Jiangsu) is a former Chinese basketball player, a 6'6", 192 lb. guard.

In 1985, Hu joined the Jiangsu Dragons junior teams, debuting with the national team in the category two years later (from 1987-2002 he would represent the senior national side). He was a two-time MVP in the Chinese Basketball Association, and led the league in scoring three times. Hu made a halfcourt shot in the 1994 Goodwill Games, in which China collected the bronze medal, their only in international play.

Considered to be China's answer to National Basketball Association megastar Michael Jordan, Hu was offered the chance to play in the league in 1998, but he was injured when the Dallas Mavericks offered him a contract, thus failing to become the first Chinese to play in the NBA. He was then offered a short term 10-day contract with the Orlando Magic in 2000, but was injured shortly after and was unable to take up the offer.

From 2005 to 2008, Hu was the head coach of former team Jiangsu Dragons. He accepted the job as the head coach of Jiangsu Dragons again in December, 2011.

External links

• Olympic profile at Sports-reference.com