Mavs assistant Harris to coach China

Harris will become the first foreigner to coach China during international play. According to Harris, the Chinese sports ministry approved him as coach on Tuesday.

The 66-year-old Harris will get to work with Houston Rockets All-Star center Yao Ming during the Summer Games.

Harris has experience coaching international basketball, having been involved with national squads from Puerto Rico, Canada and the United States. He was an assistant to Rudy Tomjanovich on the 1998 U.S. team at the World Championships in Athens.

He will not join the Chinese team until the Mavs’ season is complete. Former Dallas star Rolando Blackman, now the Mavs’ director of player development, will be an assistant on his staff during this summer’s games.

Harris also stated that the Chinese team will train in Dallas before leaving for Greece.

Dallas is in Cleveland taking on the Cavaliers at Gund Arena.