CBA Commissioner: Rockets Should Have Confidence to Select Yao Ming

BEIJING, June 26 (Xinhuanet) -- The NBA Houston Rockets should
have confidence in selecting Chinese star center Yao Ming with
their first pick in Wednesday's NBA Draft at Madison Garden Square,
New York, said Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) Commissioner
Xin Lancheng.
"The Rockets should have confidence in selecting Yao," Xin told
Xinhua on Wednesday. "They should see no obstacle."
A press conference will be held by the Rockets late Wednesday
to announce their decision on Yao, according to Yao's
representative Eric Zhang.
"The Rockets are going to announce that they will most likely
select Yao with their first pick," Zhang told Xinhua.
It seemed that the Rockets and the CBA had reached certain
agreements on the 2.26-meter center's play in the NBA but Xin
preferred "common understandings" in his description of the
situation.
"The Rockets have had common understandings with us on drafting
Yao," Xin added.
Yao needs a letter of clearance from FIBA, the sport's
international governing body, with the consent of the CBA to play
in the NBA, according to Eric Zhang. But Xin said it would not be
necessary before the draft.
"It (the clearance letter) is not necessary at the moment," Xin
said.
Yao Ming and his representatives on Saturday reached "
Agreements in Principle" on how they would compensate the Shanghai
Sharks if any NBA team pick him in the draft.
If the Rockets select Yao Thursday, he will become the first
international player without American basketball program to be
drafted as No.1 pick in the NBA history.

 

This is from official Chinese media: xinhua agency

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2002-06/26/content_458570.htm