Since most think Yao hasn't met expectations, I looked up the #1 picks over the last 10 years. #1 picks since 96 96 - AI (one Finals trip...HOF career) 97 - Duncan (3 NBA Titles...best PF in the league) 98 - Olowakandi (bust) 99 - Brand (never made playoffs, but a 20-10 average) 00 - K. Martin (decent 15-7 average) 01 - K. Brown (bust) 02 - Y. Ming (made playoffs twice, best C in the league) 03 - LeBron (never made playoffs, best SF in the league) 04 - D. Howard (average of 14-11 and looks like future stud) 05 - Bogut (jury still out) I would only take Duncan and Lebron over Yao (and I would have to think about LeBron, as he is passive as well). I just don't get why Yao get's so much flack. Where is all the negative talk for Kandi, Brand, K-Mart or Brown? Lastly, did we luck up and hit the lotto in the right year or what....
Brand has always been good. He's just been stuck on horrible teams. Everyone bashes the Clippers for taking Kandi and Brown is still one of the most laughed at drafts of all time, especially since Jordan was involved. Martin has had a career full of promise...and injuries. He went to the finals with NJ and, arguably, could've gone again had they kept the team together.
As much as he jacks, you still would have to take AI above Yao, too. There have been fewer players in this league with less talent around them than AI, imo. When they finally do bring in an above average big man (Chris Webber), he is clearly on the decline of his career. So currently, I'd say Yao is the 4th best #1 pick of the last 10 years...which is more than good. The thing with Yao is expectations. They have always been different for him, and have always worked differently for him. It is shocking the number of people who put Yao's cieling at Rik Smits at best before drafted, and who continued to be "dissapointed" in him when he clearly surpassed that. Only now, with the exception of your occasional idiot (Rosen), he is starting to get some props. Even as fans, its hard sometimes to not constantly want more from him. You just have to take a step back and realize, even as good as he has been playing lately, you still need another superstar type player and solid role players around him. But given my point on AI, given the LB has yet to make the playoffs, and though you can make less of an argument with Duncan, you can certainly claim he has had that supporting class plus extra star player (be it D. Rob, or Parker/Ginobili)....than Yao is no different from anyone else. Every great player, it seems, needs another way above average to great player with them...PLUS the right supporting cast. For that matter, the only players in recent history who have won without that great supporting cast are Hakeem and to some extent MJ. Hakeem is obvious. People may disagree on MJ. He clearly had strong supporting class, but I always thought he carried Scottie as oppossed to Scottie being that other clear star player. Hakeem is really an anomoly. And the Pistons recently. Many all-stars but no real superstar.
I'm with ya on AI, as far as being a better player. I just rarely take small over big. Pippen never won without Scottie. The numbers don't lie.
Three things: 1) The notion that MJ carried scottie pippen is rediculous. Love Pippen or hate him he was just as important as MJ--not better but just as important. This guy ran the plays, defended the oppositions best wing player and did the dirty work nightly leaving jordan fresh for scoring and lime light hogging. Not saying Pippen could have won without Jordan, but its the same the other way around, ditto Shaq/Kobe. 2) It is fair to say that LeBron has the been the best SF this season-but only because of T-Macs injury. No homerism here, we all saw tracy abuse LeBron on his own floor. There will be a day where LeBron is the best three in the league, but it has not come yet. 3) Hakeem is the olny player to ever lead a team of role players to a championship. Shaq never did it, MJ never did it, Lebron never will. Greatest center ever.
I would not take AI or LeBron over Yao LeBron is good but YAO is better building around YAO is better only reason to take LeBron . . is because the League is catering to him and Perimeter players in general. Rocket River
