—onitsownterms.Thetwo-yearstruggletogettheseyoungplayersintotheNBAhasbeenaculturalcollision—thisonefarremovedfromU.S.-Chinabickeringoverspyplanesandtradeliberalization.Ifitworksout,itcouldbe—inbasketballparlance—theultimategive-and-go.“ThisisjustlikePing-Pongdiplomacy,”saysXiaSong,asport-marketingexecutivewhorepresentsWang.“Onlywithamuchbiggerball.”Twoyearsagoitlookedmorelikeaballandchain.Wang’sArmybossesweremiffedwhentheMaverickshadthenervetodrafttheirstarbackin1999.NelsonremembersflyingtoBeijingwiththethenownerRossPerotJr.—entricbillionaire—tohammeroutadealwiththestone-munistsofthePLA.“Youcouldhearthemthinking:‘WhatisthisNBAteamdoing,tryingtolayclaimtoourproperty?’”Nelsonrecalls.“WetriedtoexplainthatthiswasanhonorforWangandforChina.”Therewasnodeal.Wanggrewdespondentandlosthisedgeoncourt.