I think the thing that says it all is when you go to a street court in China you'll see the type of jerseys being worn. And More likely then not, its not a Rockets 11 Its a Rockets 1 Miami 3 Washington 0 New Jersey 5 Lakers 8 Celtics 34 etc.............. Its just a common theme and it even happens out here in Australia.
CCTV 5 is chinese sports channel. Lakers game is just inferior to Rocket's (Maybe there is bucks because Yi is there) Chinese basket fans like Jordan, Iverson, Kobe and so on. IMO, along with Sun Yue joins Laker, there must be more fans focus on Laker.
This is fake report. Yao is much popular than Kobe in China. The reason Kobe is popular in China is that all the bball commentators in CCTV is lakers fans!!I hate it.
I think that guy in Shanghai has some good points, but not exactly accurate. Chinese fans are rather divided, just as any other groups of fans. There are actually Chinese fans who are deemed as Yao haters in China. They think Yao is just another tall guy and his success in NBA is simply a result of commercial considerations, which really sound absurd to me. I live in Beijing and I am a huge fan both of Yao and the Rockets. I watched every Rockets game last season even after Yao went down with that foot injury. For the Olympics showdown between China and USA, I think I will definitely cheer for the Chinese national side. This is kind of like that I do love to watch Kobe play, but whenever there is a game between Rockets and Lakers, I Just want the Rockets to beat the crap out of the Lakers, Kobe included.
You know, there is this kind of weird feeling among Chinese basketball fans. Those veteran fans, by which I mean they came to love NBA before Yao went to Houston, think basketball wise, only Jordan, Kobe, T-Mac and some others can be called superstars. They show a lot of contempt for their countrymen who come to love NBA just because of Yao. The veteran fans feel that those new fans are cheering for Yao just because of that silly national pride they take in Yao's career not because of Yao’s success as a truly good basketball player. So in the eyes of those veteran fans, those new fans are just bandwagon fans and don't really understand basketball. But I think they are wrong. I knew NBA before Yao went to Houston, but it is because of Yao and the Houston Rockets that I now turn into a true basketball fan. I love Yao not only because he is a Chinese basketball player but also because he is one of the best basketball players in the world.
I happened to have the NBA finals on during class while I was teaching in China in 98 When the Bulls won, one of my students was so happy he started crying and ran out into the hallway. This was prior to Yao, of course. I remember being in Tibet driving on a pass 5000 meters high and seeing a hand-painted sign that said "Michael Jordan." Why is there even an expectation that Chinese ought to love Yao the most? I like some foreign players a lot more than some of the players on the US team. That's OK, right?
I think a Chinese person could admire other players' games much more than Yao, while at the same time rooting for Yao and hoping he succeeds. It's like a relationship with a teammate. Yao is part of their "team", but they may prefer other players to him. But still, he's their's and a win for him is a win for them.
I am a Chinese. It is garranteed that almost all Chinese people who watches NBA supports Huston Rockets. I know a lot of Chinese people likes Kobe, but when Lakers meet Rockets, Chinese people support Rockets without a doubt. Rockets is like all Chinese fans' home team. And because of Yaoming, we like Tmac, we like Francis, we like Battier, We like Schola, we like Hayes... Head, Hayes, Novak (although is gone), and a lot of Rockets current players or former players are much more well known than some of the star players in other teams.
well he has been an all-star ever since he came into the L (the first few weren't deserved but it's fan voting), got a few 2nd/3rd all-nba selections. those should recognize him as at least one of the best in the NBA. no HOF stuff but i just said his individual accomplishments should put him above other chinese players. he's the first true chinese international star who actually has done great in the best basketball league in the world.
sure but there is no way the Lakers would draw more fans than the Rockets unless Sun Yue is becoming half as good as Kobe.
I guess another reason that debunks... the Allstar selection issue... thank god the Lakers... never did get Yao when they were opening up there cap space for him... the Fakers really would have been unbearable... with 1.3 billion people cheering for Kobe...
idk why y'all hate kobe? sure hate the player, but i don't think most chinese fans care about kobe the person, but kobe the best basketball player in the world. some of you guys let what people do off the court blind what people do on the court, which is what he's paid to do.
Kobe Bryant is no Yao Ming! In terms of all that really counts, Yao is ten times the man that Kobe Bryant is. Yao is light years ahead in character, faithfulness, loyalty, kindness, compassion, and morality. Basketball is a small thing when compared to virtue.
yes like that matters in sports as jordan cheated on his wives and gambled and still considered the greatest athlete to ever lived by most. we're discussing SPORTS. if you want to discuss morals, go live with the players off the court and then you really know who they are.
"in terms of what really counts" Sports is fun, but it is primarily a fantasy that doesn't last long. I told one of my classes that one day no one will know who MJ was. They laughed. Then I asked them who Bob Cousy was. No one knew. Admittedly, people of great character may not be remembered either, but they ultimately contribute so much more to future generations. People of poor character just live for themselves and usually leave many "hurting" people in their path. Yep, I know, it's a sports forum.
