BEIJING, Sept. 7 -- Chinese basketball center Yao Ming believes that more of his Chinese teammates need to gain experience abroad to help the national team be more competitive at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, CCTV reported Tuesday.

Greek Lazaros Papadopoulos (L) catches a rebound in front of China's Yao Ming during their eight-finals match of the World Basketball Championship, in Saitama, suburban Tokyo on Aug. 27, 2006. Greece won 95-64. (Photo: Yahoo) Photo Gallery >>>

    China finished a disappointing 11th at the world championships in Japan after being knocked out 95-64 by eventual runner-up Greece last week.

    Yao, who averaged a tournament-high 25.3 points and virtually carried China into the second round, told CCTV that several of his teammates should join more competitive leagues overseas.

    "As the 2008 Olympics are drawing near, we should send abroad the likes of Yi Jianlian and Wang Shipeng as soon as possible in a bid to raise our level in the short term," the NBA All-Star center said.

    "Even if our basketballers fail to play as regulars, we still could benefit at least from their training. I played as a substitute 10 minutes per game initially, too. It depends on your will and work."

    Yao lamented his teammates' lack of strength and courage after China crashed out of the worlds, and remarked in media reports last week that Chinese basketball was too inward-looking. But he conceded it was "impossible" for domestic clubs hungry for national success to send key players to foreign leagues.

    China's basketball officials, concerned that foreign careers might interrupt national duty, have also been reluctant to allow young talents to seek their fortunes in overseas leagues.

    Yi Jianlian, touted as China's next Yao Ming and courted by several NBA clubs, declined to enter this year's NBA draft.

    Menk Bateer and Wang Zhizhi, the other two towers in China's NBA "Great Wall," were characterized by regular transfers and little game time.

    Wang and the rest of Yao's teammates will return to domestic league clubs for the kickoff of the CBA 2006-07 season in October.

    (Source: Shenzhen Daily/Agencies)