deep down i think he will be shawn bradley i hope that he wont. i voted that he wont. and i still think we should draft him
i voted all star. i think the odds are good. there's practically no more centers in the nba that are all star caliber. and you know he'll get the votes all over the world.
The way the NBA fan voting is conducted, I MIGHT say he has a chance his first season. Sure, Shaq would deserve it, but imagine the people all over East Asia who can vote on the internet . . . all the people in China who will vote ONLY for Yao Ming (and other Rockets? ) to be in the All Star Game. Heck, he WON'T be all-star calibur his first 3 seasons at least, but you never know with the balloting these days.
Most people believe that Ming will get it done over time. When the season starts he will be 22 which is much closer to a 'production level' than many of the other players. I think he's the pick and hopefully the Rocks pull the trigger.
Within six seasons? HELL ya! This guy AIN'T no Shawn Bradley! Hell, he already weighs 285 lbs. at only 21 years old; Bradley can BARELY crack 260 lbs. even now! PLUS, he already has a better shooting touch and better overall athlethicism than Bradley. I say he's a "much better" version of Rik Smits; Ming just needs to hit the weights and I'm sure he'll do that! Have some faith people.....
When I whipped this poll up I was being pretty generous. I realize All-Star appearances are more about popularity (and Mr. Stern approval) than talent and skill, yet I feel less confident than my CC.net brothers. That being said, most perennial All-Stars (or, sorta perennial All-Stars) have gotten there by their 6th season, if not sooner. I am trying to give Ming the benefit of the doubt.
Steve Francis got there when he was mostly injured. If Ming can put up good numbers in blocks and rebounds, he has a good chance of making the bench. But I'm not the one that's gonna tell Dirk, Sheed, Cwebb, Michael Finley, Antonio McDyess, or Elton Brand that one of them didn't make the game...