Sun Ming Ming
Encyclopedia
Sun Mingming is a Chinese
basketball
player. He is one of the tallest players to ever play professional basketball, standing 7 ft 9 in (2.36 m) and weighing 370 lb (168 kg). Ming wears size 20 sneakers. He also makes occasional appearances as an actor.
, Harbin
in Heilongjiang Province
, China
. He has two siblings: a brother and a sister. He did not start playing basketball until he was 15, when he was 6 ft 7 in.
in early 2005 to train for a possible career in the NBA
. He was declared eligible in the 2005 NBA Draft
, and had a brief tryout with the Los Angeles Lakers
, but was not selected in the draft.
In the summer of 2005, Sun discovered that he had a benign brain tumor
attached to his pituitary gland
. Because he had neither health insurance
nor enough money to pay for the more than $100,000 in medical bills, his sports agent
, Charles Bonsignore, started a fundraiser
to raise the necessary money. The tumor was successfully removed on September 26, 2005.
After his surgery, Sun played with several American minor league teams, including the USBL team Dodge City Legend
, the ABA team Maryland Nighthawks
, and the IBL
team Grand Rapids Flight
. Later Sun would play in the Mexican league
with Fuerza Regia
and in Japan's bj league
with Hamamatsu Phoenix. In 2009 he returned to China to play for the Beijing Ducks
in the Chinese Basketball Association
(CBA), after a decent showing with the Heilongjiang Club in China's National Basketball League (CNB).
on October 15, 2006. He also appeared in a fight scene with actors Chris Tucker
and Jackie Chan
in the film Rush Hour 3
.
On March 11, 2007, Sun was a part of the tallest lineup in the world, a Guinness World Record
, on the Maryland Nighthawks, with four players over 7 feet tall, including former NBA player Gheorghe Mureşan
.
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
basketball
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. He is one of the tallest players to ever play professional basketball, standing 7 ft 9 in (2.36 m) and weighing 370 lb (168 kg). Ming wears size 20 sneakers. He also makes occasional appearances as an actor.
Early life
He was born in a small town near in Bayan CountyBayan County
Bayan County is a county of south-central Heilongjiang province, People's Republic of China, under the jurisdiction of the provincial capital of Harbin....
, Harbin
Harbin
Harbin ; Manchu language: , Harbin; Russian: Харби́н Kharbin ), is the capital and largest city of Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China, lying on the southern bank of the Songhua River...
in Heilongjiang Province
Heilongjiang
For the river known in Mandarin as Heilong Jiang, see Amur River' is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the northeastern part of the country. "Heilongjiang" literally means Black Dragon River, which is the Chinese name for the Amur. The one-character abbreviation is 黑...
, China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. He has two siblings: a brother and a sister. He did not start playing basketball until he was 15, when he was 6 ft 7 in.
Career in the United States
Sun came to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in early 2005 to train for a possible career 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 was declared eligible in the 2005 NBA Draft
2005 NBA Draft
The 2005 NBA Draft took place on June 28, 2005 in the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In this draft, NBA teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, such as players from high schools and non-North American leagues...
, and had a brief tryout with the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, but was not selected in the draft.
In the summer of 2005, Sun discovered that he had a benign brain tumor
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
attached to his pituitary gland
Pituitary gland
In vertebrate anatomy the pituitary gland, or hypophysis, is an endocrine gland about the size of a pea and weighing 0.5 g , in humans. It is a protrusion off the bottom of the hypothalamus at the base of the brain, and rests in a small, bony cavity covered by a dural fold...
. Because he had neither health insurance
Health insurance
Health insurance is insurance against the risk of incurring medical expenses among individuals. By estimating the overall risk of health care expenses among a targeted group, an insurer can develop a routine finance structure, such as a monthly premium or payroll tax, to ensure that money is...
nor enough money to pay for the more than $100,000 in medical bills, his sports agent
Sports agent
A sports agent procures and negotiates employment and endorsement contracts for an athlete.In return, the sports agent generally receives between 4 and 10% of the athlete's playing contract, and 10 to 20% of the athlete's endorsement contract, though these figures vary...
, Charles Bonsignore, started a fundraiser
Fundraiser
A fundraiser is an event or campaign whose primary purpose is to raise money for a cause. See also: fundraising. A fundraiser can also be an individual or company whose primary job is to raise money for a specific charity or non-profit organization...
to raise the necessary money. The tumor was successfully removed on September 26, 2005.
After his surgery, Sun played with several American minor league teams, including the USBL team Dodge City Legend
Dodge City Legend
The Dodge City Legend was a professional basketball franchise in the United States Basketball League, a minor league that played in the spring. The Legend won three USBL titles, in 2000, its first season, 2003 and in 2005....
, the ABA team Maryland Nighthawks
Maryland Nighthawks
The Washington GreenHawks were a team of the Atlantic Coast Professional Basketball League based in Washington, D.C.. As the Maryland Nighthawks they were formerly part of the American Basketball Association and a founding member of the Premier Basketball League , in which they later played as...
, and the IBL
International Basketball League
The International Basketball League was a short lived professional basketball league in the United States. The IBL was headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. The league started in 1999 and ended in 2001.-History:...
team Grand Rapids Flight
Grand Rapids Flight
The Grand Rapids Flight are a team in the American Basketball Association based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.The Flight recently underwent several front office changes. The team is now owned by the Grand Rapids Junior Jammers Youth Foundation, a non-profit based in Grand Rapids, Michigan...
. Later Sun would play in the Mexican league
Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional
The Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional is the top professional basketball league in Mexico. The league was founded in 2000 with 11 teams, expanding to 24 as of 2008...
with Fuerza Regia
Fuerza Regia
The Fuerza Regia is a Mexican professional basketball team based in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico playing in the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional...
and in Japan's bj league
Bj league
The bj league is a professional basketball league in Japan that began on November 5, 2005. The ten team league is divided into two conferences, the Eastern Conference, and the Western Conference. It had its inaugural All-Star game in 2006. One of its major sponsors is Spalding.The bj league...
with Hamamatsu Phoenix. In 2009 he returned to China to play for the Beijing Ducks
Beijing 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...
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...
(CBA), after a decent showing with the Heilongjiang Club in China's National Basketball League (CNB).
In the media
Sun has made several television appearances, including Jimmy Kimmel Live! on October 11, 2006. He was also the subject of a documentary television show, Anatomy of a Giant, which was originally broadcast on the Discovery Health ChannelDiscovery Health Channel
Discovery Health Channel is a website owned by Discovery Communications, created for people interested in health and wellness. Until December 31, 2010, it was a U.S. cable television specialty channel dedicated to television programming that highlights various aspects of health and wellness...
on October 15, 2006. He also appeared in a fight scene with actors Chris Tucker
Chris Tucker
Christopher "Chris" Tucker is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for playing the role of Detective James Carter in the Rush Hour film series.-Early life:...
and Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
in the film Rush Hour 3
Rush Hour 3
Rush Hour 3 is a 2007 martial arts/action-comedy film, and the third installment in the Rush Hour film series, starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, that began with the 1998 film Rush Hour and continued with the first sequel Rush Hour 2 in 2001. The film was officially announced on May 7, 2006,...
.
On March 11, 2007, Sun was a part of the tallest lineup in the world, a Guinness World Record
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
, on the Maryland Nighthawks, with four players over 7 feet tall, including former NBA player Gheorghe Mureşan
Gheorghe Muresan
Gheorghe Dumitru Mureşan, , also known as Ghiţă or George, is a retired Romanian professional basketball player. At 7 ft 7 in , he is one of the tallest players in NBA history, along with Sudanese player Manute Bol, who was also 7 ft 7 in. Both Mureşan's parents are of average size, and,...
.