Sorry Anti-Yao folks, a couple more of your favorite gripes taken care of... (promises of the full season, and a full health examination.) http://sports.espn.go.com/nbadraft/story?id=1396781 Rockets assured Yao would play entire season Associated Press -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOUSTON -- Chinese center Yao Ming would be able to play the entire season and playoffs in the NBA if the Houston Rockets pick him in the upcoming draft, team attorney Michael Goldberg said Wednesday. "We also assured them that he'd be able to play in the Olympics,'' Goldberg said as he arrived home from negotiations with Chinese basketball officials in Beijing. The Rockets want to take the 7-foot-5 center in the June 26 NBA draft but they had been seeking assurances that Yao would not be recalled during the season to play on China's national team. The Chinese wanted to be sure their best known player would be able to play for them in international competition. With that part of the negotiations completed, Goldberg said the Rockets were now waiting a release by FIBA, the international basketball governing body. The China Basketball Association and the Shanghai Sharks, Yao's current team in China, are working to complete their approval process, hopefully leading to a release by FIBA, allowing Yao to play in the NBA. "The CBA and the Sharks understand that we have to have the FIBA release in time to make our decisions before the draft,'' Goldberg said. "The Sharks would be losing their No. 1 player so they wanted to make sure things can be worked out.'' Team physician Dr. Walter Lowe accompanied Goldberg to Beijing and performed a complete physical examination of Yao. He found no health problems that would affect his playing. "This is something that we do with all players,'' Lowe said. "We couldn't get a complete examination of him at the workouts in Chicago. We wanted this to be a basketball decision and not about health.'' Lowe said he was satisfied with results of the examination. "He's a very tall guy. He's very engaging and he's healthy,'' Lowe said. "There were things that worried me on paper that didn't worry me after we saw him in person,'' Lowe said. "The Chinese medical system is super. They allowed me to make a complete examination.'' Lowe said Yao had normal injuries and fractures that were related to playing basketball. While the Rockets moved closer to a deal with China, Yao and his agent John Hizuinga were in separate talks with the Sharks over compensation Yao must agree to pay the Sharks for his departure. "We are actively exploring every possible creative solution that we can to try to get this deal completed,'' Hizuinga said. "Each side is looking for things from their own perspective. What we are doing is trying to find something that will work for both sides.''
What does the part about "normal injuries and fractures relating to playing basketball" mean? I am personally pro-Ming but that does concern me a little. I guess if the team doc says he's OK that should be good enough though.
THanks for the info! This is GREAT NEWS! I wonder what these injuries are. I hope these do not become chronic and hinder his playing career.
The fact that the Doc went along was a very well kept and pleasant secret! Or did I miss something before that said he was going? At any rate,I assume he was given access to Yao's records,charts,etc given that he seemed completely satisfied and confident with Yao's health.(and hopefully structure/future health risks?)
Rockets Dr. Lowe clears Ming According to ESPN the rockets Dr. Lowe has checked out Yao Ming and cleared him to play with the Rockets. The main thing the Rockets are waiting for now is FIBA release. That should be coming before the Rockets can name Ming as our number 1 draft choice.
The only health risks that I have heard about is him having stress fractures while he was a teenager.I'm sure that Dr. Lowe would have looked into the possibility of future problems. Glad to hear that he is fit.
Another hurdle cleared. with all the injuries Lowe had to deal with last year, I'd say he can recognize an injury when he sees one!
this is really good news...the rockets have answered a ton of questions....kudos to them for their thoroughness...
Here are some cool pics from the Rockets trip to China: http://www.nba.com/rockets/photogallery/Rudy_T_and_Carroll_Dawson_Mee-47282-34.html Rudy T. and Carroll Dawson Meet Yao Ming June 19 - Rockets Head Coach Rudy Tomjanovich, GM Carroll Dawson, general counsel Michael Goldberg and media relations director Nelson Luis traveled to China last week to meet with Chinese officials regarding the services of potential Rockets draftee Yao Ming. The following are a few snapshots from the trip (photos courtesy of Nelson Luis). Pics include: 1-Yao Ming towers over Rudy T. and Carroll Dawson. 2-Yao Ming and his possible head coach next season. 3-Rudy T. and Shanghai Sharks coach Li Qiuping. 4-Rudy T. with Shanghai Sharks assistant coach Wang Chun and Chinese National Team coach Wang Fei.
Man, Rudy looks like the cat that swallowed the canary in those pics! Think he's psyched about getting Ming?
Saw an interview with Goldberg and he said that Yao is a great kid and that he has a really good sense of humor. "He had Dr. Lowe and I in stitches a couple of times."
Wow! I realize the guy is 7'5" and 300lbs, but when you see him next to Rudy it's amazing. He makes Rudy look like a little kid and Rudy isn't a little guy. I can only imagine the fun they're going to have standing Yao next to Calvin Murphy.
Rockets receive assurances on Yao Sorts radio 1310 in Dallas just reported (5:45 am)that the Rockets have received assurances from the Chinese that Yao would be able to play the entire year and would not be pulled out and back to China. They didn’t give anymore info than that.
I looked at those pictures of Ming and tried to imagine him with about 10-20 more pounds of mass in his upper body... scary. His arms look bigger than in pics I've seen in the past, but that may just be the way he's holding his arms.
Drew_Le: "I wonder what these injuries are. I hope these do not become chronic and hinder his playing career." A couple of weeks ago there was a report about Yao's stress fractures and while it didn't seem extraordinary for someone that size (growing so rapidly) there was concern. In particular, Dr. Lowe said he would be a lot happier if he could giver Yao a full physical. At the time, that appeared to be impossible. Now it appears the Chinese are so anxious to make Yao a success in the NBA that they agreed to this and Lowe gave Yao a clean bill of health. IOW this is outstanding. When we won the lottery, I was 100% in favor of trading the pick. Since then, the more I have learned about Yao, the more I like him. I'm about 95% in favor of drafting him now. I'm starting to have trouble imagining a trade big enough to let him go. Back then I would have gone with Collier and the #1 for Curry and the #2 or the #1 for GS's #1 this year and #1 next year. No more. Now I'm hoping Woods falls to #15. We could take him and let him sit and learn hehind Rice and Mobley for two years (until Rice's contract expires). Playoffs in 2004, contender in 2005?
