From "Recognizing winners and losers of 2002-03" http://espn.go.com/nba/columns/bucher_ric/1535709.html By Ric Bucher ESPN The Magazine Rookie of the Year: Yao Ming, Rockets. If it's close or anyone other than Yao and Amare Stoudemire get a vote, someone's either only looking at stats or repaying a favor. Stoudemire is extraordinary for a high school player and is the year's most athletic rookie, but this isn't the MSROY (Most Surprising Rookie of the Year) award. The Suns don't (yet) run their offense through Amare the way the Rockets do with Yao. Opponents offensively and defensively don't make special plans to counteract him the way they do Yao, either. Kings center Vlade Divac: "To me, Rookie of the Year has to change the way his team plays. Stoudemire is a role player. Yao is a key player." From "A new spin on the old Jamison-Carter debate" http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,82~10835~1309549,00.html By Vittorio Tafur, The Oakland Tribune YAO MING AND AMARE STOUDEMIRE: Many players in the NBA still think the Rookie of the Year award is up for grabs, to which I say phooey. Stoudemire has played like he's 30 instead of 20, but Yao learned a new language, faced ridiculous media attention and pressure from China and still improved as the season went on. I remember how much the U.S. players wanted to take the No.1 draft pick's head off in that exhibition game in Oakland last summer. He didn't buckle and the pros all came away immediately impressed. Stoudemire is great. Yao is special.
I like this " Vlade Divac: "To me, Rookie of the Year has to change the way his team plays. Stoudemire is a role player. Yao is a key player." " Praise from your opponent, is that great?
Excellent quote that pretty sums up the situation. While I would not be too unhappy if Yao shares the ROY with Amare, I think the choice is pretty clear if overall impact on team play is the key deciding factor. While Amare can be an impact player at times, there is no comparing how the complexion of the game changes when Yao leaves the floor for Cato as opposed to Amare checking out for Bo Outlaw.
No surprise really. Divac and Yao are the same kind (foreigner, fitness game) and just like Shaq and Amare are the same (black, power oriented).
it has nothing to do with the fact that they're both foreigners. yao has played better than amare has against the kings. that's why vlade has that opinion. and yao hasn't done anything really impressive against the lakers.
how about 9-9 for 20 pts? how about 24 pts and 14 rbs? how about 4 blocks on Shaq? explain to me how Amare did better than Yao against the Lakers?
Bucher's analysis is right on the money. Yao doesn't have the FLASHY SportsCenter dunks that Stoudamire has but the REAL people in the know know how much Yao has changed the Rockets and how much opponents have to game plan for Yao.
