Does anyone know if Yao will be able to stay in the US for the summer or does he have to go back and play for China? I thought his only obligation was to play for the national team which doesn't play until two years for now.
Yao has the Asian Championships for Men to compete in which is in August (usually 8 games in 8 days). Not sure when the NT starts practicing for that event.
He probly wont be here for most of the summer but he will be here for training camp Im thinkin he will train n the weight room all summer and be 320 by next year hes at 301 now
Assuming we either dont make the playoffs, or only make it to the first round. He will have the time from then till probably beginning/middle of July(to start NT training for the games codell mentioned) and then he should have from the middle of August till the end of Oct to get more rest and training. I can't imagine the he would have to stay in China after the August tourney is over. Anyone know how much time the Chinese NT takes to train for a specific event? A month? or less? Considering how his schedule has been over the last couple of years, he should be able to get some rest and weightroom time this summer and be here for the full camp this year.I expect him to be ready and fresh to come out and kick some ass this next season.
BigBnLC:- I hope that Yao Ming is NOT 320lbs by next season, his frame may not be built to be efficient at such a big increase in weight! I dop wont him to be stronger with a minimum weight increase.
I understood that he was to be available to compete for China in the major Championships. I dont recall him having to spend long periods of training in China ?
I understood that the Chinese government insisted that he, and the others, return immediately upon completion of their US/NBA obligations. The man can likely do with a break. From basketball, from America.
China NT should give him enough rest. Asian Championship is a piece of cake for China. There is no need to do intensive preparaion for the tounament. Yao is the "representive" of China Basketball Assoc in NBA. They will make sure his road to stardom as smooth as possible. That means reputation and money for them.
Even Yaoming does not have to join the training at NT, I think he prefers to stay in China for some rest. I am sure he missed a lot his Chinese friends and Chinese food.
I would be fine with him not training with the NT and just going there and playingin the tourney in August. I would even be fine with him going back and relaxing for a while. Before he has to play in that tourney. I just hope that he comes back afterward to take advantage of the workout facilities and summer leagues so he can be fully prepared for the training camp and preseason games. Some time off between the end of our season and the tourney would be perfectly in order for him to relax and get some rest(mental and physical). Go to it bigman...be ready to drive for the finals next season!
what if while he is back the u.s. goes to war w/ iraq or n. korea. china might not let him return. scary to think about how international b.s. could affect the rox. it will be interesting to see ming play in the asian games. we will be able to see how much a year in the nba made him all the more dominant over there. he has improved so much in the short time he has been here. his chinese teammates proabaly wont even recognize him.
