LOS ANGELES, Feb. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Del Harris could be the first foreign coach to take the role as the head coach of the Chinese national basketball team.

    A team of Chinese basketball officials had a talk with the Mavericks to let Harris, and assistant coach Jonas Kazlauskas, former Lithuanian head coach, to join their future Chinese coaching team after this season.

    The agreement had received the nod of the Mavericks and Harris could join former Chinese head coach Adijiang, assistant Min Luleiand other Chinese coaching staff this fall.

    Kazlauskas, who led Lithuania to the bronze medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, will fly to Beijing before the Chinese national team begins the training camp on March 15, said Li Yuanwei, general secretary of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

    "We are still talking with the Dallas Mavericks in details and the contract has not been signed yet," said Li, who is in Los Angeles attending the NBA 2004 All-Star Games.

    Harris, 66, has 13-year experience as head coach in NBA with a record of 556-457 with his spells in Houston, Milwaukee, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas.

    In 1998, Harris served as one of the assistant coaches for the bronze medal-winning team USA at the World Championship of Basketball in Athens, Greece. Enditem