- Title: CHINA: YAO MING SET TO BECOME THIRD CHINESE PLAYER TO APPEAR IN NBA
- Date: 27th June 2002
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (JUNE 27, 2002) (REUTERS) BASKETBALL PLAYERS RUNNING DURING TRAINING YAO MING GETS REBOUND YAO MING DEFENDING AGAINST ANOTHER PLAYER PLAYERS WALKING AWAY FROM THE COURT YAO MING SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) YAO MING, BASKETBALL STAR, 21 YEARS OLD, SAYING: "My success shows that China is able to train high-level athletes. Today is my big day and a new beginning." YAO MING SITTING FOR INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) YAO MING, SAYING: "I hope the NBA will teach me a deeper understanding of basketball, so that I can improve my standards" JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) YAO MING, SAYING: "This is the first time for the CBA (Chinese Basketball Association) to send an advanced player to the NBA, and this is also the first time for the NBA to choose a foreign player through this selection process. So this is a very important choice for both sides. It is normal to have doubts." PLAYERS IN A CIRCLE LISTENING TO COACH YAO MING LISTENING YAO MING TALKING TO PLAYERS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) WANG FEI, COACH OF CHINESE NATIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM, SAYING: "It is not only the coach who is happy, but for all the people who work for Chinese basketball it is a happy story." (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) LIU WEI, MEMBER OF CHINESE NATIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM, SAYING: "Yao Ming's success proves that there is great hope for Chinese players to enter the NBA. It gives us and also the players younger than us hope to get into the NBA, it is a kind of encouragement." YAO MING THROWING BALL YAO MING STANDING AT PENALTY LINE BASKETBALL GOING THROUGH NET YAO MING THROWING BALL YAO MING CLOSE
- Embargoed: 12th July 2002 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BEIJING, CHINA
- Country: China
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA4E7AUB7PW8NVEQISGUKRP6FSL
- Story Text: Chinese basketball hero Yao Ming is heading to the United States to play for the Houston Rockets - the third Chinese player in history to play in the NBA.
The selection by the Rockets cemented Yao's legendary status in China and mapped a path the Rockets hope will take him to the stratosphere of NBA stardom.
Speaking to reporters in Beijing on Thursday (June 27), the 7 foot 5 inch 21-year-old appeared unpeturbed by the prospect of facing off against the likes of Shaquille O'Neil - saying he was relishing the chance of playing in the U.S.
With the hopes of Chinese fans resting on his shoulders, Yao said his selection proved that China was capable of producing world class athletes.
"My success shows that China is able to train high-level athletes. Today is my big day and a new beginning," said Yao.
Yao Ming's departure comes after protracted negotiations with the Chinese basketball association.
Yao may need to brush up on his English-language skills - although he speaks some English, Yao said he only understood about 50-60 per cent.
Yao said playing in the NBA was a golden opportunity to improve his skills.
"I hope the NBA will teach me a deeper understanding of basketball, so that I can improve my standards," said Yao.
Yao did admit to few last-minute reservations.
"This is the first time for the CBA (Chinese Basketball Association) to send an advanced player to the NBA, and this is also the first time for the NBA to choose a foreign player through this selection process. So this is a very important choice for both sides. It is normal to have doubts."
Yao sidestepped questions about interminable negotiations with the Rockets, his former team the Shanghai Sharks and the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) to secure his release to the American league.
Yao's future has been complicated by the Sharks' hefty compensation demands and new Chinese government rules requiring players hand over half their salary and endorsements income to sports authorities.
Chinese national basketball coach, Wang Fei, said that Yao Ming's selection was good for the whole of Chinese basketball.
"It is not only the coach who is happy, but for all the people who work for Chinese basketball it is a happy story," said Wang.
Liu Wei (pron: Lyeow Way), of the Chinese national basketball team, said:
"Yao Ming's success proves that there is great hope for Chinese players to enter the NBA. It gives us and also the players younger than us hope to get into the NBA, it is a kind of encouragement."
Yao's busy interational playing schedule will last through the Asian Games in October - leaving him only a few weeks in the Rockets camp before the start of the NBA season in early November. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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