Dumb question I know: Is Yao really excited about playing for the Rockets and the city of Houston? I'm not worried, just a little skeptical b/c I haven't heard any news, or interviews other than the brief one after his #1 selection. In fact, he didn't really seem that joyous in those shots of he and his fam. Not a crisis, It just crossed my mind a second ago. Any info will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
I think he is thrilled. As for the shots of he and his family not looking overly excited dring the draft...remember, he and his family woke up extra early to have a TV crew set up in their living room to basically announce a foregone conclusion.
Everything I have read in interviews says Ming is excited about playing here. Ming and Ming's parents like and trust Rudy and CD and it seems Ming is excited about playing with some quality guards like Francis and Mobley. Seems like a great fit. Chris
Sounds more to me like he is scared to death. Who can blame him? That's a lot of pressure to be riding on those 7'5" shoulders. This isn't to say he's afraid of PLAYING but I can imagine the pressure off the court must be enormous.
I do get the sense that while he is very happy to be coming into the NBA and playing for the Rockets and wanting to improve his skills in the NBA...that at the same time he DOES feel a lot of pressure. Pressure to represent his entire country and pressure to live up to the hype of a #1 pick. That is a lot on his shoulders! Hopefully to make things easy for him and to help him settle in the Rockets players and coaches will encourage him and welcome him from the get-go so that they can take some of that burden off of his shoulders to let him just concentrate on becoming the best player he can be. Chris
I don't know if this true but I one time read about two years ago that Yao thought of coming to the University of Houston and play for Clyde Drexler but the Chinese Government didn't allow it.
Actually they had to leave home and go to the offices of CNN China and PRETEND they were in their living room!
I remember hearing about the same thing. It does appear Ming is starting to feel the pressure, but I think the kid can handle it. The Rocket players and coaches need to step up and support him on and OFF the court. He will need time, there is no doubt about it. The media will be relentless, especially the NY and Chi media.
http://archive.basketballnews.com/content/archives/recruiting_1998/kaplanreport_051099.asp Clyde certainly tried to recruit Ming, and he might have signed a letter of intent, but he also retained representation (in China) around the same time. He clearly hadn't made up his mind at that point, so saying the "Chinese Government didn't allow it" is without merit. IMHO, he made the right choice. Four years working on fundamentals and playing in the ChBA and internationally is better than playing ball as a "student-athelete" and facing the nominally better competition of Conference USA.
He has big shoulders, errr I mean he has high shoulders. He can handle it. He has been groomed for this!
