NBA Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler signed Sunday (Jan 9) with a Chinese sports promotion company to become the first American NBA player promoting a Chinese sports brand.

Drexler, one of the 50 NBA Greatest Players, signed a two-year contract with Athletic of Fujian Province. The details of the contract were not disclosed.

"I'm excited to be here again," said Drexler, who came to China for the fourth time. "It's my ambition to promote the basketball game to more countries, to let more youngsters to like the game."

The Athletics is planning to bring the Houston University basketball team, which was formerly coached by Drexler, to China for an exhibition game against of China's Collegiate Super League champions.

"The Houston team is in the Division One (of the NCAA), but I don't think they have the shot on the Final Four," Drexler said. "I hope, in the future, we can bring the best American college teams to China."

Drexler led the Houston Rockets to two consecutive NBA championships in 1993-95. He played 15 seasons in the NBA and retired in 1998.

Editor: Donald