Home>News Center>Sports
         
 

Yao has grown into one of NBA's biggest stars
By JONATHAN FEIGEN (CRI/Houston Chronicle)
Updated: 2005-10-07 14:11

"There were two girls playing in Sacramento this year, Chinese girls (Miao Lijie and Sui Feifei of the WNBA's Monarchs)," Yao said. "I saw the coach in Sacramento (John Whisenant) said their biggest problem with them is if they make a mistake on the court, they want to say 'sorry' to everybody. Maybe it is hard to understand for you guys, but I understand that. The culture is different. I was like that, but I changed a little bit, but not totally changed.

"We always say we have to learn from mistakes. That's why Chinese people make mistakes and keep thinking, thinking."

Yao would seem to have more reasons to reflect on his ability than most. But rather than reacting to pressure or expectations, Yao is conscientious because that is his personality, Van Gundy said.

But Yao knows he is expected to dominate. The Rockets can cite his improvements in transition defense or against the constant pick-and-rolls he sees. He was third in the NBA in field-goal percentage.

But subtle improvements don't work for giants.

"Everybody wants a guy to make improvements by leaps and bounds, and that's not usually how it happens in the NBA," Van Gundy said. "Yao's improvement has been incremental. Yao's made solid progress throughout his time in the league.
The numbers say it. When you watch him says it. He's done fine.

"Where is he at? He's a very fine player."

Better at the post

Though he can't quite bear to consider his potential, Yao clearly believes he has considerable room to grow. He once was happy just to be in the NBA. But he has played well enough to know he can do much more.

"When the Rockets drafted me as the No. 1 pick (in 2002), I didn't know what level I should be, how many points, how many rebounds I should average," Yao said. "That year, I really didn't put a lot of pressure on myself. I thought maybe I could score seven, eight points, maybe get five, six rebounds. That's not really pushing myself too hard. Then I watched people around me, like checking every year what they did. OK, I didn't touch that level yet.
Page: 1234



The Grand Sumo Las Vegas tournament
Guo Jingjing taking gold in National Games
Selected Reuters sports pictures for September 27
 
  Today's Top News     Top Sports News
 

China sends aid, rescue team to earthquake-hit Pakistan

 

   
 

Vice Premier Wu Yi meets Kim Jong Il

 

   
 

Why does US rev up China threat?

 

   
 

Help on the way to South Asia quake victims

 

   
 

Traffic mishap kills 20 in Zhejiang

 

   
 

Tourism revenue tops 46 bln in holidays

 

   
  Italy, England, Portugal, Dutch advance in World Cup
   
  Raikkonen wins Japanese Grand Prix thriller
   
  George Weah holds huge pre-election rally in Liberia
   
  20 teams through to 2006 World Cup finals
   
  Golf: China's big guns sign up for Zhuhai Leg
   
  Do or die for Yankees
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
Advertisement