I did not see any threads with this article nor a mention on ClutchCity.net so I thought I would post this article I found. Nothing too earth shattering but a good read. Cool to see that Rudy will be sending Yao practice footage. ### Yao Ming impresses Rudy T. http://www.galvnews.com/report.lasso?wcd=4395 By Joey Richards The Daily News Published September 14, 2002 GALVESTON — Yao Ming’s critics question his ability to bang with the big guys in the NBA. But Houston Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich doesn’t think that will be a problem for the 7-foot-6 center from China. Not after watching Yao take a beating and still thrive in a warm-up game against Canada prior to the World Championships. "What really impressed me about him is that he didn’t let it rattle him," said Tomjanovich, who described the game as more of a football game than basketball. "He just took it as part of the game. I communicated to him through his cousin that that’s not the NBA. He would have been at the free-throw line. His comment was, ‘Tell the coach not to be so nice to me.’" Tomjanovich, who was on the island Friday for his annual Rudy T. Golf Tournament at the Galveston Country Club, got a good look at Yao during the World Championships, which wrapped up Saturday in Indianapolis. Yao, who was taken No. 1 overall by the Rockets in the NBA Draft in June, averaged 21 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.5 blocks for China in the World Championships, despite averaging only 28.1 minutes per game. However, it wasn’t just the numbers, including an impressive .753 field goal percentage, that got Tomjanovich’s attention, but Yao’s passion for the game. "He enjoys it," Tomjanovich said. Tomjanovich, who begins his 12th year as the Rockets coach this season, also was impressed with Yao’s passing ability. "Because he’s so big, he can sort of turn and look over the defense where a lot of guys can’t," he said. "I really couldn’t fault the guy too much. He did get in foul trouble, but every big player we’ve ever had — Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon — had foul trouble early in their career, and they just have to learn to discipline themselves in that area." Yao won’t join the Rockets until after the Asian Games in mid-October. He’ll likely have only two weeks with the Rockets before the season begins, and Tomjanovich said that will hurt his progress this season. But Yao won’t be left out of the loop, even while playing a world away in Korea. "We’ll be sending him our early practices — the things we’re putting in, so he can watch them on his computer," Tomjanovich said. Tomjanovich expects Yao, who turned 22 on Thursday, to be tired when he arrives in Houston. "He was tired in Indianapolis from all the stuff they’ve been doing," he said. "They’ve been going for three months, and now they’ve got the Asian Championships. Just those flights are enough." And Tomjanovich knows Yao will have a lot of other things to deal than just the game itself. "There’s going to be so many things coming at this guy, being the No. 1 pick, being a foreign player, adjusting to this culture, this language and this team." But Tomjanovich, who pointed out Yao isn’t a skinny kid — he’s 300 pounds, doesn’t expect Yao to back down on the court. "I didn’t see anybody manhandling him at all (at the World Championships), and I’m telling you, international ball is physical, and those guys are veterans," he said. "You saw what they did to our guys." ### Chris
well even i thought that ming could stand to get tougher, and i support ming a lot, but if rudy says that he is physically ready than i believe it.
That may answer Jeff's question about his weight. 296 is his actual weight and 7'6'' is his height. At the WC, they listed him as 257 and 7'5''. It's annoying that folks don't bother to check those stats before they critisize his size. However, I bet that Rudy doesn't mind that at all. As much as possible, I'm sure he'd rather oponents underestimate him.
The 1 thing I see is Yao will need time to adjust to EVERYTHING here So what you see at the start will only be a very small part of the whole package To me that means everything will only get better..OH there will be days and even weeks where people say The Rocks messed up ....But by seasons end EVERY TEAM OUT THERE will wish they had this TEAM PLAYER CALLED .............YAO MING ..........
