中國籃球一代傳奇巴特爾正式宣佈退役

Mengke Bateer, the first Chinese player on an NBA championship-winning team, is retiring from basketball.

首位獲得NBA總冠軍的中國籃球運動員孟克·巴特爾宣佈退役，結束了籃球生涯。

Bateer said on Tuesday he is bowing out because of health issues but aims to continue inspiring youngsters through a youth training program.

週二，巴特爾宣佈由於健康問題選擇退役，但他仍將繼續通過青訓體系培養下一代籃球人才。

He rose from being a shepherd boy on the grasslands of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region to become one of the most accomplished Chinese basketball stars.

他從內蒙古自治區草原上的模樣男孩成長爲中國最成功的籃球巨星之一。

Bateer's life has been changed significantly by the sport, and he's now ready to pass his experience on to the next generation through a joint youth development initiative with legendary NBA center Hakeem Olajuwon.

巴特爾的人生因爲體育發生了翻天覆地的變化，現在，他將同NBA傳奇巨星阿基姆·奧拉朱旺一道，建立青年發展項目，將自己的經歷傳授給下一代。

"It's really emotional to bid farewell to the game that I've played for almost 30 years," Bateer said with tears in his eyes at a ceremony in Beijing to announce his retirement.

“真的很難對自己從事了近30年的籃球運動說再見。”巴特爾在北京舉行的退役宣佈儀式上含淚說道。

"But I'm viewing it as both a happy ending as well as a new start because I will be able to join hands with my idol to continue working in the sport off the court.

“但我將此視爲籃球生涯圓滿的結束，同時還是一個新的開始，我將和自己的偶像一起，繼續在球場之外爲這項運動做貢獻。

"I won't leave the sport after retiring, and I hope more youngsters can fulfill their dreams through basketball like I did," said the 39-year-old who was born to an ethnic minority family in Inner Mongolia.

“退役之後，我不會放下這項運動的，我希望更多的青少年能夠像我一樣，通過籃球來實現自己的夢想。”現年39歲的巴特爾出生在內蒙古的一個少數民族家庭。

Tuesday's farewell announcement was attended by Olajuwon.

奧拉朱旺也出席了週二的告別儀式。

Rising to stardom after joining the NBA's Denver Nuggets in 2001, the 2.1-meter center became the first Chinese to start an NBA game with the Nuggets during the 2001-02 regular season.

2001年，身高2.1米的巴特爾加盟NBA，效力于丹佛掘金隊，司職中鋒，在2001-02賽季成爲第一位在NBA首發登場的中國球員，此後便開啓了巨星之路。

He then won a championship ring with the San Antonio Spurs the next season after being traded to the team in the summer of 2002.

第二個賽季，他被交易到聖安東尼奧馬刺隊，並於2002年隨隊獲得一枚總冠軍戒指。

In the early 2000s, US media called Bateer along with Wang Zhizhi - the first Chinese to play in the NBA - and eight-time All Star Yao Ming the "Walking Great Wall" but only Bateer made it to the finals.

本世紀初的幾年裏，美國媒體將巴特爾、中國NBA第一人王治郅和八次入選全明星陣容的姚明合稱爲“移動長城”，而只有巴特爾一人獲得了總冠軍。

Despite the limited playing time on court, "the season I spent with the Spurs was the most rewarding spell in my career as the team spirit and the work ethic there inspired me a lot", said Bateer, who returned to play in the Chinese Basketball Association in 2005.

儘管上場時間不多，但巴特爾2005年迴歸CBA時稱：“我在馬刺對過的那個賽季是職業生涯中最有意義，對馬刺的團隊精神和職業道德我深有體會。”

Considered one of the most dominant centers in the CBA with the Beijing Ducks (1997-2002) and Xinjiang Flying Tigers (2007-13), Bateer never won a domestic league title.

雖然作爲CBA最具統治力的中鋒之一，他在北京首鋼隊(1997-2002)和新疆廣匯飛虎隊(2007-13)都未曾獲得過國內聯賽冠軍。