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Chinese stars excited about NBA future

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by windandsea, Oct 5, 2002.

  1. windandsea

    windandsea Member

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    A Chinese fan posted this on sina.com. It seems from American source.
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    Chinese giants Yao Ming and Menke Batere are excited about the chance to play in the National Basketball Association, where they will join rival Texas clubs that have both won NBA crowns.

    Yao became the NBA's first top draft pick from outside the United States in June and a top Chinese sports official said a week ago there is no problem with releasing the 2.26m center to join the Houston Rockets after the Asian Games.

    Batere, whose name means "Eternal Hero", played last season for the Denver Nuggets. He was traded Tuesday to Detroit and sent Friday to San Antonio, where his teammates will include Spurs' star big men David Robinson and Tim Duncan.

    "Now San Antonio has three big guys. They are going to be tough," Yao said.

    "That's a big thing for San Antonio.

    "That's a great thing for Chinese basketball, to have three players in the NBA."

    The third man is center Wang Zhi Zhi, who last year became the first Chinese player in the NBA when he joined the Dallas Mavericks but has since upset officials in his homeland.

    Wang refused to come home for the world championships and Asian Games, staying in Los Angeles to find a new NBA deal.

    His break came Tuesday when he signed an offer from the long-struggling Los Angeles Clippers.

    Among those like Yao who think Chinese basketball will soar to new heights with NBA talent is Spurs general manager R.C. Buford.

    "With the exposure Yao is going to get and the Olympics are going to get between now and 2008, I think it has the potential to really explode," he said in a posting on a team web site.

    Batere, who turns 27 next month, is happy with his move from an NBA doormat in the Motor City to a title contender at the site of the famed Alamo battle.

    "I like San Antonio," he said.

    "I like David Robinson."

    Yao, 22, and Batere have dominated inside here at the Asian Games for China, which clinched a semi-final berth Saturday with a 104-59 victory over Japan that also ensured a berth for Philippines in the final four.

    Batere will likely make an NBA minimum salary and serve as a reserve behind Robinson and Kevin Willis.

    But Robinson has had injury troubles in recent years and Batere should carry some of the load if "The Admiral" proves unseaworthy.

    "We think he is a very, very under-rated player," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

    "Everyone has known about him but kind of pigeon-holed him in a sense that he is another foreign player."

    Translators will be needed but that has not been a problem for the Spurs, whose roster includes Argentina guard Emanuel Ginobili and French guard Tony Parker.

    Yao led the Shanghai Sharks to a league title last season, while Batere was the league's All-Star Game Most Valuable Player and averaged 22 points, 12.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists for the Beijing Ducks last season.

    Batere averagd 5.1 points and 3.6 rebounds in 27 games for Denver last season.

    He is averaging eight points and five rebounds in four Asian Games appearances.

    "He needs to improve his rebounding, but his effort is there and he is physically strong," Buford said.

    Whichever letter combination one uses, Menke Batere as China spells it or Mengke Bateer like the NBA, the Inner Mongolia native spells trouble for foes despite being in the shadow of Yao and Wang in China's "Great Walking Wall".

    Should Dallas match the Clippers offer and keep Wang, a move the NBA salary cap makes unlikely, the NBA would have a perfect marketing slogan for three Chinese goliaths in Texas - the Trio Grande, after Texas' Rio Grande river.

    Instead, Yao and Batere could be the Texas Two-Steep, after the Texas Two-Step dance and complete with big cowboy hats like John Wayne and pictures of them on horseback riding "Tall in the Saddle".

    Expect every Spurs-Rockets game to be seen telecast live in China, starting with a December 3 matchup in Houston.

    Yao and Wang square off when the Rockets visit the Clippers on November 24.

    The Spurs and Rockets meet in pre-season games October 15 and 23 but Yao and Batere are doubtful for both since the Asian Games final is October 14 and both need time to train with new NBA teammates before taking the court.
     
  2. rockbox

    rockbox Around before clutchcity.com

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    Great story W&S. Your post are always entertaining and informative.
     
  3. Rockets_Truth

    Rockets_Truth Contributing Member

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    Thanks for the info Windandsea. You always come through for us with new news man! :)
     
  4. CoPilot

    CoPilot Member

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    You Da man W&S.....Thanks......:cool:
     
  5. Relativist

    Relativist Member

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    I never thought about the possibility that all three Chinese players might play for Texas teams. I find that hilarious for some reason.
     
  6. ricerocket

    ricerocket Member

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    It should be interesting watching Robinson trying to guard Yao "the grasshopper" Ming. The guy will be 8 foot tall with a ten gallon hat on!
     
  7. coke

    coke Member

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    great article!!!
     

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