Houston Rockets' forward Shane Battier started his 2009 China Tour from trying his new shoes in Beijing on Friday.

As Yao Ming's teammate and the first NBA player of the PEAK TEAM, Battier had had his own sneakers every year since he signed a multiple-year contract with Chinese brand Peak in 2006.

Seven NBA players had been sponsored by the PEAK TEAM, which includes Ron Artest of Los Angeles Lakers, Jason Kidd of Dallas Mavericks.

Battier tried his new shoes at a news conference Thursday night and started the shot of his new advertisement on Friday before his tour in China in Guangxi, Hunan and Hubei provinces on Monday.

He will be joined by Sonny Weems of Toronto Raptors for the set-up of a couple of basketball parks and a series of basketball clinics in these cities.

"China is like my second home. Signing with Peak was one of the best decisions I made in my life. I feel honored to be the first NBA player signing with the brand and now there are a couple of NBA players following my step," Battier said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 28, 2009)