| The Truth Of The Yao Authored by Jason Linnard - March 2, 2005 - 8:47 pm
“Psst……have you heard? The next Kareem is coming to the NBA!”
This was the buzz around the basketball world when Chinese big man Yao Ming declared for the 2002 NBA Draft. He wasn’t the consensus No. 1 pick, but most experts had him being selected at the top spot.
Then came the Lottery. The Rockets had the 5th worst record in the league in the 2001-2002 season, 28-54, leaving them with a decent, but not great, shot at the number one selection. When the envelope was opened and the Rocket’s logo was revealed, Steve Francis’ face lit up. He new he’d be teamed with one player sure to revolutionize the league.
Then came David Stern’s famous words and he was officially a Rocket, after lengthy negotiations with the Chinese government.
All during the off-season, he was labeled as the next Kareem, the next Chamberlain. His potential was given titles like “endless,” “amazing,” and “extraordinary.”
Finally he was given his chance to play. In his first season as a Rocket, he averaged 13.5 PPG and 8.5 RPG. Many people weren’t thrilled with these numbers, but they brushed it off and said, “He’s still adjusting. He’ll be much better next year.”
In his second season, he increased his averages to 17.5 PPG and 9.0 RPG. Many of the critics began to get impatient, wondering where his 30 point, 20 rebound nightly performances were. Then the infamous word came through…..
BUST.
He was being called a bust by quite a few analysts. My first thought when hearing this was “How many busts average 17 points and 9 boards?” I was concerned but I had faith in him to prove his critics wrong.
Before his third season, his career took a turn. A few days after the 2004 NBA Draft, his teammates and friends Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, and Kelvin Cato were packaged and traded to the Orlando Magic in a deal that brought superstar Tracy McGrady to Space City. Once the deal went down, everyone was labeling them as the next Kobe and Shaq. (Ironically, those two would be split up a short time later)
Everyone then began to question Yao’s dominance. But the word dominance is very vague.
What is dominance? Is it throwing down a dunk so hard the glass shatters? Is it grabbing every single rebound? Is it constantly drawing double and triple teams? Many said he wasn’t dominant due to his lack of aggression. Those same questioned whether or not he’d ever live up to his original hype.
Dominance in the NBA, to me, is being a player that can score consistently, be a defensive focus of the opponent, and dramatically change the way the opponent plays their game.
Yao seems to fit fairly well in each of those categories. Even if his time is limited due to foul trouble, he is always the first person looked for, as his deadly turnaround jumper from the baseline has a great percentage of success. I’d say it warrants being considered a move with effectiveness as the “Sky Hook” or the “Dream Shake.”
Earlier this year, Yao was elected to start for the Western Conference All-Star team for the 3rd consecutive year. Some questioned whether or not he deserved it.
A man who is among the league leaders in points, blocks, and rebounds, and who is near the top in each of those categories among centers? Why wouldn’t he warrant an All-Star selection? Among centers, Yao ranks 6th in rebounds, 2nd in points, and 6th in blocks. The only person who is above him in each of those categories is…..you guessed it – Shaquille O’Neal. (Stoudemire was left out of comparisons as he is widely considered a power forward, not a center)
With the young sensations LeBron James and Amaré Stoudemire, Yao’s real impact on the league has been overshadowed. But he is beginning to shed his persona that has labeled him “soft” and “not aggressive.” In his third year in the league, he’s proving his worthiness of the top selection in the draft. He probably won’t be the next Kareem or Chamberlain, but he will be a great center in this league for many years.
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