Chinese basketball player Menk Bateer has become NBA teams' target and he is likely to play in the world's top basketball league next year.

The 2.10-meter center Bateer, who has attracted attention of NBA clubs Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs and Milwaukee Bucks, received an invitation fax from the Denver Nuggets early this week, which offered him a chance to attend their pre-season training camp from October 1 to 26.

"As a center, Bateer is very powerful and he is good at shooting. I think he is better than some NBA centers," Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said in the fax.

The 26-year-old will possibly reach a short-term agreement with Denver if he can make a brilliant performance during the upcoming training camp.

Bateer, who plays with the Chinese club Beijing Ducks, showed strong confidence with his NBA dreams.

"I had attended the NBA pre-season training camp in Phoenix in 1994 and now I am more confident than that time for the reason that I have gathered more experience through the past several years," Bateer said.

"NBA players play games based on their strong physical constitution and I have some advantages in this aspect and I have no problem in adapting to the NBA fierce games."

If Bateer joins the Denver Nuggets, he will have to play against his national teammate Wang Zhizhi of the Dallas Mavericks.

( 09/29/2001)