Many people on this board, or many people in the world try to judge Yao Ming's talent and predict Yao Ming's future. I will tell you whom I will trust. 1. Su Qun He is a famous Chinese basketball writer. He has a close relationship with Ming. He knew Ming when Ming was only 16. Most Ming's diaries were published at his newspaper. He interviewed RT at Beijing (I translated that article) and followed Ming at the draft day. He is a manager of a Chinese basketball BBS. He is there everyday and discusses with fans. Two days ago, he mentioned Ming at one of his thread. "I am not a NBA coach, or a basketball professor. I am not a basketball expert. But I am very familiar with Ming's individuality. Among all the basketball players that I have met, Yao Ming is the one who has the most "brain". I can use one word to describe him: "zhen" (in Chinese, this word means honest, pure, legit, upright or excellent. I just don't catch the exact meaning of this word here.) If the experts of Houston Rockets don't make mistakes on Ming's training , I think Yao Ming's individuality will give them a great surprise. Even if he has flaws in the skills, this point may help him to make up these flaws and get the enhancements. If Yao Ming is not a 7-5 guy, but a 6 feet person, by his wisdom and individuality, he can achieve a huge success in other areas too. I can assert that Ming will be an all-star player, and probably a hall of fame player. He might change the history of NBA. "
2. Xu Jichen Another famous Chinese basletball writer. A reporter of xinhua news agency. He has been the NBA commenter in China for over ten years. He was the interpreter of Ming at the draft Day. This is a dialogue between a CBS reporter and Xu. I posted it aone month before. Peterson: What kind of player Ming is in your eyes? Xu: Ming is a genius. I has never seen a basketball player like Ming before. He is tall, smart. He likes to learn and goes all out at the match...... Peterson: Ming is very skinny, can he hold the impact of Shaq? Xu: Don't compare Ming with any other basketball stars. Ming is a unique player. His legs are very strong. His upper body is not that strong, but this is an advantage of him. He is more agile and less hurt....... Peterson: In which way can Ming bring impacts to NBA? Xu: Ming has great potentials. He needs to change himself first to adapt the NBA competitions. Ming will not be Shaq or Dream. Ming will be Ming...... Peterson: If he joins NBA, he will be a millionaire. Do you think he will be changed by the life style of USA? Xu: No. He always gives all his income to his parents. He said that he didn't care about money, but only the match. He has the goals of himself. Ming likes to study Chinese history. His IQ is very high. He began to learn English by himself a few years ago and made a quick improvement. He will adapt NBA and the life in USA...... Peterson: Ming said that he is a enthusiastic player. What is enthusiasm? Xu: He wants to be the best player. He wants to prove himself. In Sydney Olympic games, he often asked me what the foreign coaches said about him. He was disappointed that many coaches only said good things about him. "I want to know what is my shortcoming." he said. In Chinese national team, Bateer is the best player who can turnaround and shoot under the rim. Two days ago, Ming told me that he had cloned such actions of Bateer. Peterson: what are the hobbies of Ming. Xu: Before 13 years old, Ming's dream was to be a water-polo player. He likes swimming. He always reads the real history works, not the history novels. If China holds a computer game competition in the whole country, Ming could enter the semi-final. He is very humor too. Peterson: what will Ming's reaction be when he faces the NBA stars? Xu: Ming said, first of all, he wants to have the first two points at NBA. He wants to catch up the others¡¡
3. Rudy and the doctor of Rockets The director of Shanghai Sharks ,Bai Li, said after the draft day : "After meeting Yao Ming, the head coach of Houston Rockets Rudy said that Ming is absolutely a genius. The doctor of Rockets and other person agree that Ming will achieve a great success in NBA." Bai Li quoted Rudy and the doctor's word to prove that Shanghai was losing a great player and he had the excuse to ask a lot of money from Ming. If this is true, the opinions of these experts of Rockets partly influenced the negotiation between Ming and Sharks. We all know how difficult that negotiation was. At last, Ming had to pay $10 million to get the freedom from Sharks. And in order to get Ming, Rockets compromised to CBA at the last moment to agree that Ming can attend the Asian Games and Asian Tournament.
4. Don't trust Wang Fei The head coach of Chinese National Team, Wang Fei, will be the last person in the world that I trust. He denied the request of Ming to attend the Draft at NY because "the importance of practice." Then at draft day he sat with Ming and his parents and enjoyed to be on TNT. As a package of Wang ZhiZhi, he was at Dallas over one year (or half year) to study coaching. (Did you hear he say English on TNT?) He became the head coach of National Team because of this NBA experience. A few days ago he complained to the media that Wang Zhizhi should come back to China because "the training quality of NBA is the same with Chinese National Team. Wang doesn't need to stay at US". My God. This is the last chance for Wang to prove himself and survive at NBA. He just want Wang to come back and attend this tournament. Today he said that "Yao Ming needs to improve himself to play the best players in NBA." Yao Ming has stayed at Chinese National Team for five years. If "the training quality of NBA is the same with Chinese National Team", why does Ming still need to improve himself? Another report from Xinhua News Agency said about today's game " Wang Fei only simply split the playing time between Yao Ming and Bateer. He did not aim at the situation of the court to replace players." But we heard that Wang Fei began to blame Ming.
This is the exact point I made in another thread. The coaching is sub-par in China. They need to upgrade their techniques and training methods. Thats not to say the US coaches are so much superior, it is more a difference in methodology and execution. I just don't think the Chinese coaches get it.... To coin a phrase from the immortal Al Davis( owner of the Oakland Raiders) JUST WIN BABY!!! P.S. thanks windandsea, as always
I started following Chinese Basketball since 98 or 99... At first I thought Wang Fei was a much better coach than Jiang Xingquan (ex-Chinese National Team coach), because Wang Fei learned coaching at Dallas before. But after all those BS by him, I think he is a very selfish coach. All he cares about is his own job...
yao's future is on his hand,nobody can help he becoming a all-star, now , his level is just better than his age people, but compare with NBA veteran , he is just so so, he has a great body condition,but his shortcoming is also obvious,so he must work hard and hard, that is the only way to success and to his best future,
I do not trust Wang Fei either. First, He looks like a politician more than a coach. After watch 3 games in last 3 days, I think WangFai is nothing. Fortunately Wang ZhiZhi did not go back. Second, He is not a smart one(maybe stupid). For example. In a game, Shanghai VS Bayi(wangfei's team). In the last few minutes, when Yao got 5 fouls, I heard Wang Fei assert Yao will stay on bench, just becasue NBA will do like that. So Wangfei arranged his players by his "judgement". But all we know without Yao, Shanghai will lose this game definitely. Let Yao stay on bench means surrender. Yao played with 5 fouls until the end. I think if a coach judge things by some "rules" instead of the real situation. He is not a good coach. I wish we(chinese) can have a US coach instead of Wang Fei.
Great stuff Windandsea!! I am so impressed with Yao Ming's character. This is a man who appears to be committed to his goals. The more I find out about Yao Ming "the person", the more I get excited about Yao Ming "the basketball player".
Great posts, fellas: * FYI, Wang Fei used to be the starting center for the Chines NT - I think that's partly why he became the coach. He carries the flag in a lot of the international tournees. BUT, I imagine he knows how to play politics very well. * Anyone who insisted that Wang and Yao to take part in every international tourney for the NT is either very stupid, short-sighted, or has his own agenda. * Chinese coaching does need major overhaul. It still relies too much on individual talent and height to dominate in Asia. We now need to rise up to the next level and try to measure up with Europe. * American coaching IS superior! Meanwhile, China is still in the process of building its basketball culture. In fact, it has only started its own professional league for not even a decade.
