Anthony Falsone: If The Dream could do it, Yao can do it

I think he could last longer than someone like Shaq because his playing style is predicated on size and skill, not athletic domination. Look at how Kareem lasted until he was over 40 because he had size and a hook shot. Yao may not last quite that long, but he has a good shot of being productive into his 30's.

 

I think Yao has maybe 10 years left, including 6 or 7 at an all-star level. For his body type, I think that's a much more realistic outlook.

 

No one can tell how long Yao's career will last without a crystal ball. But he is the type of players who will get better in his 30's with skills improvement and better experience and knowledge of the game. Players who depend on athletism and crazy jumping ability usally peak at around 30 years old. Yao is definitely not one of those. He doesn't really jump that much even now anyway.

 

Nice post.