DALLAS Wang Zhi Zhi became the first Chinese national to play in the NBA on Thursday, scoring six points and a warm welcome from fans in an eight-minute debut with the Dallas Mavericks, who beat the Atlanta Hawks 108-94.

Mavericks fans roared for the 7-foot-1 (2.16m) center in a reception devoid of any hint of the chill in U.S.-Chinese relations over a stranded U.S. spy plane.

"Welcome to Wang's World", read one sign held aloft by a woman in the crowd. Others chanted "We Want Wang."

"I don't think this has anything to do with relations with China. These are two totally different questions," fan Kim Ross, 28, said about Wang's signing with the Mavericks for the rest of this season and next season.

Dallas, which made Wang, 23, its second-round pick of the 1999 draft, secured his release from the Chinese Army last week and signed him on Wednesday.

Mavericks Coach Don Nelson had said he would only call Wang off the bench if his team were safely ahead, and he first put Wang on the floor for the last 28 seconds of the first half with Dallas leading 58-37.

Wang's one shot was blocked in his brief first-half appearance.

The crowd applauded when Wang returned, substituting for German star Dirk Nowitzki just over four minutes into the fourth quarter with Dallas holding a comfortable 20-point lead.

He quickly drained his first NBA basket with a jump shot, made two free throws and hit a short shot that put the Mavericks over 100 points.

Fans in Reunion Arena jumped to their feat and roared each time Wang scored.

"It doesn't matter about China. What matters is that he (Wang) wins," said one man who gave his name only as Corey.

Wang, who also had three rebounds, said he was nervous when he first went out on the court but quickly warmed up to the NBA game.

"It means I can play in the NBA. It also means that a Chinese player can play against the world's best," he told reporters after the game.

"I will remember this game for the rest of my life," he said.

Coach and General Manager Nelson said he was pleasantly surprised by how fast Wang had scored on his first night.

"He really has great shooting skill... It looked like he belonged," Nelson said.

Wang earned the nickname the "Great Wall of China" during the 2000 Sydney Olympics and attracted the attention of NBA scouts, partly by scoring a team-high 13 points against the United States in the one game the two countries played.

He helped lead the Bayi Rockets to the Chinese Basketball Association championship this season, which was the sixth straight title for the Chinese Army team.

(Reuter)