Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) team Shandong Golden Stars has reportedly signed former NBA point guard Norris Cole to play for the ballclub in the upcoming 2016-17 season of the premiere professional basketball league of China.

According to Asia-Basket, the 27-year-old native of Dayton, Ohio devoted most of his time for the New Orleans Pelicans in the recently concluded 2015-16 NBA season. Cole, who will be playing for the first time in China, played 45 official games with the Tom Benson-owned NBA team while posting averages of 10.6 points, 307 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 26.6 minutes of playing time.

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During his final season with the Pelicans, Cole shots 40.5 percent (196-of-484) from the field, 32.4 percent (33-of-102) from the three-point marker and 80.0 percent accurate (52-of-65) from the free throw line, according to official website of the NBA.

Cole was the 2011 NBA Draft 28^th overall pick selected by the Chicago Bulls but his draft rights were immediately traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who then dealt him to the Miami Heat.

He spent over three-a-half seasons with the Heat, where he played a total of 274 official games in the regular season and appeared in 60 matches during the playoffs.

He won his first championship ring in his rookie season in 2012 after the Heat prevailed over the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games (4-1).

Cole, listed 6-foot-2-inch (1.88 meters) tall and weighs 175 pounds (79 Kilograms), was also a part of the third NBA championship title of Miami as they edged the Western Conference powerhouse San Antonio Spurs in seven games in the 2012-13 season of the league.

Before joining the NBA, he played college basketball for the Cleveland State Vikings from 2007 to 2011, where he played 140 career matches for the collegiate team. He was even named the Horizon League's Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in 2011.

Meanwhile. Shandong Golden Stars finished fifth overall in the regular season of the 20-team CBA league last season. Will the team be stronger now with the entry of Cole?

Tagschinese basketball association, Norris Cole, Miami Heat, New Orleans Pelicans, NBA, cleveland state vikings