Shanxi Zhongyu had terminated contract with Bonzi Wells as the former Houston Rockets player refused to return to China after a holiday break.

The CBA club released an announcement on Jan. 31, one day before the re-open of the domestic basketball league after a seven-day break during the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Players of Shanxi were ordered to return for training on Jan. 27. Wells, who went back to the United States, postponed his returning date several times before he failed to make a league match on Sunday.

"We had booked a return flight on Jan. 27 and postponed it to Jan. 29 due to a request from Mr. Wells. However, Mr. Wells didn't return on schedule for a match against Changchun Dacheng," the announcement said.

Shanxi lost 110-89 at home to Changchun and fell to the eighth placing on the standings.

Wells joined Shanxi on Dec. 12 and played his first CBA match on Dec. 21 against Tianjin Ronggang, when he had 48 points, 11 rebounds and seven steals in a 107-106 victory.

The former NBA player averaged 34.3 points ln 14 matches, which Shanxi won half of them.

(Xinhua News Agency Feburary 2, 2009)