Los Angeles Lakers' Sun Yue (left) of China is introduced by Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak during a news conference in El Segundo, California, on Wednesday. Sun signed a contract last month with the Lakers.

The 2.06m guard, who was drafted by the Lakers at No 40 in 2007, is the first ever Chinese guard to play in the NBA. He signed a two-year contract with the franchise. His rookie year salary is $442,000 and he is expected to pocket $736,000 in the second year.

Sun is the third Chinese player currently playing in the world's highest-level basketball league. Star center Yao Ming is with the Houston Rockets and forward Yi Jianlian moved from the Milwaukee Bucks to the New Jersey Nets earlier this year.

AP

(China Daily 09/26/2008 page24)