Zhang still a kid
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China coach Bob Donewald Jr said it's unfair to compare Zhang Zhaoxu and Yao Ming, an assessment made by both Chinese and United States media.
"It's not fair to either one of them. Max (Zhang) is a young player and he has to get stronger. He has to get more of a feeling for the game," Donewald said.
"The American media pays attention to him because he is tall. It's not fair to him. Yao is special and is one of the best players in basketball. Max is young with a bright future, but he's got a lot of work to do."
The coach also hopes Max can get more minutes with his college team.
"I don't think he is getting enough court time in college to learn," he said. "He needs minutes. The next couple of years will be a crucial time for his development. He cannot sit on the bench and hope to develop."
Zhang says he does not want to come off the bench or be a cheerleader for Cal.
The center will fly back to the US for his final academic year after the Worlds, and he hopes his international experience will boost his team. "I hope I can do more to help the team," he said.
Although Zhang has not taken the court much during the Worlds, Donewald believes he will eventually develop into an important part of the team.
"I think with the experience he gains at the World Championship, he will help the team at the Asian Games in November," he said.
"Hopefully, he can get stronger and be ready to go for the 2012 Olympic Games."
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