Sports

Sun Mingming Towers Over Japanese Pro Basketball League
By wchung | 06 Jun, 2026

Hamamatsu Phoenix's Sun Mingming blocks Osaka Evessa's Shota Konno of Japan during a consolation match to decide the third place of bj-League in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, May 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

At 7-foot-9, it’s hard to overlook Chinese center Sun Mingming. The comparisons with NBA star Yao Ming are inevitable. Able to dunk while barely leaving the ground, Sun just completed the most successful season of his pro career, helping the Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix to a first-place finish in the Eastern Conference of Japan’s professional basketball league.

Sun came to the United States in early 2005 and was declared eligible for the 2005 NBA Draft. His tryout with the Los Angeles Lakers was unsuccessful. At around that time he was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor suspected of stimulating the over-production of growth hormone, a potentially fatal condition known as acromegaly. Sun did not have health insurance and could not afford the $100,000 procedure to have it removed. Thanks to a fundraiser started by his agent, Charles Bonsignore, the tumor was removed in September.

After surgery Sun played with several minor league basketball teams, including the USBL team Dodge City Legend, the Maryland Nighthawks of the ABA and the Grand Rapids Flight of the IBL. In June of 2007 he played for Mexican professional team Fuerza Regia.

Another operation in November of 2007 forced Sun’s departure from Fuerza Regia. He began playing for Hamamastu Phoenix later that year. He is currently averaging 8.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.