The Sydney Kings have made NBL history, becoming the first club to sign a Chinese-born player.
Shenzen Leopards giant Bo Liu will join the Kings for the 2016-17 season as a development player via a loan deal.
He said the chance to link with Sydney coach and Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze was an opportunity too good to pass up.
"He's very strict. But off court, he makes funny jokes, talks about everything," the 207cm forward said.
"And he jokes around with me. That type of personality is something different to the type of coaches I've so far had in China."
Gaze has spent time with Liu, who represented China at the world junior championships in 2013, over the past six months.
"He's a high energy guy, runs the floor really well and is super aggressive on the defensive end," Gaze said.
The Kings begin their NBL campaign on October 8 against the resurrected Brisbane Bullets.
