Yao Ming's Stuck in China

Chinese center Yao won't be allowed to enter draft

Seven-foot-6 center Yao Ming of China, expected to be the top pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, will not be permitted to enter, sources close to Yao told ESPN.com Thursday night.

The NBA will be officially notified on Friday that China's Shanghai Sharks have declined to allow the 20-year-old Yao out of his contract.

Because Yao is under 21, he has to declare for the draft by the early entry deadline of May 13. But foreigners who are over 21 aren't obligated to do so, meaning Yao can be in the draft in 2002.

Yao's potential U.S. representatives expect a yearly battle to let him out of his Shanghai contract.

Several NBA executives told ESPN.com, in Tempe, Ariz. at the NBA Draft camp that they would have selected Yao with the No. 1 pick, if he could get out of his contract.

With Yao and Duke sophomore Jason Williams unavailable, that means there's a good chance that Seton Hall freshman Eddie Griffin or one of the three potential high school centers, Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry or Kwame Brown – if he declares – could be the No. 1 overall pick in the June 27 draft. A high school player has never been the No. 1 overall pick.

Yao is not the first Chinese center to have NBA aspirations. Nor is he the first to have trouble getting out of his contract in China.

In 1999, the Mavericks drafted 7-foot-1, 255-pound Wang ZhiZhi. Dallas made Wang a second-round pick that year, then began trying to get him released from his Chinese Army team, the Bayi Rockets.

Almost two years after being selected, Wang was let out of his contract and joined the Mavericks late this season.

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