Boston Heral: Yao becoming big hit in a hurry

And Murphy pulls out the race card.


Star's rising in Houston: Yao becomes a big hit in a hurry

by Steve Bulpett
Tuesday, January 14, 2003

HOUSTON - Smiles come easily to Yao Ming. Ask him about the condition of his knee and he looks at it with wide-eyed puzzlement before grinning and letting you know he's fine.


Ask him if, after working on a couple of commercials, he has interest in becoming an actor someday and the Rocket rookie deadpans, ``I don't think they can find a stunt double for me.''

The 7-foot-6 top draft pick from China speaks through an interpreter (Colin Pine), but he understands most of what he hears in English and his wit is drier than a Texas summer.

He knows his NBA history - ``Of course I know a lot about the Boston Celtics. They've won a lot of championships, and they've won a lot of championships in a row,'' he said before last night's 101-92 win over the Celtics - and he knows comedy.

Rockets legend and team broadcaster Calvin Murphy was asked who was the bigger Rocket wise guy, Yao or Charles Barkley.

``Probably Charles,'' Murphy said. ``But it's close. Yao is more clever.''

Less than three months into a crash NBA orientation, Yao is handling things incredibly well. His game, complete with passing skills and subtleties galore, has impressed even the hoopish purists, but the fact he has been able to do as well as he has (12.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.95 blocks a game) is truly amazing - even to him.

``The process of improving has been a lot quicker than I thought it would be,'' Yao said. ``I think the primary reason for that is I've gotten a real feel for the game.''

A very good feel.

``The first thing you have to say about Yao is that he's legit,'' Murphy said. ``He's proven that. It's too bad that so much is being made about him being from China and all that because it's taking away attention from his game and what he can do. If he was black, people would just be saying he's legit. He has that kind of game. It's the fact that he is the well-rounded person that he is has made his transition a lot easier.

``I don't know how he does it. He's in the same situation that Michael Jordan was in when he started winning championships and had all that attention on him. The difference is that Michael was able to work up to that.

``We as American basketball players come up through the playgrounds with the ego tripping and stuff like that. He comes in from a different culture, and he's able to handle it.''

His ability to handle all of this new pressure comes from his father, Yao said.

``In difficult times, if you can maintain a humorous attitude about things it helps you to relax,'' he said.

It helps that his teammates have taken well to him. Rockets star Steve Francis calls him ``Dynasty,'' a takeoff on Ming Dynasty.

Back around the holidays, Francis said, ``Personally, I think we're all blessed to have somebody like Yao brought into our lives. Are you kidding? A 7-6 center who can play like this guy? Yeah, I'm real thankful.''

C's coach Jim O'Brien wasn't as thankful at having to go against Yao last night. But he was clearly impressed.

``Absolutely terrific,'' O'Brien said before Yao's 10 points, six rebounds and five blocked shots. ``I think he's going to be a great NBA player. I think he does everything. He's a great passer with great fundamental skills in the low post facing the basket and putting it on the ground. I was surprised at his lower body strength, his ability to seal people. And his size and his hands are so good. I don't see any downside to him as a player.''