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ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
Yao Ming: The Next Asian Superstar?
(Updated
Wednesday, Jan 22, 2025, 06:38:56 AM)
he sweetest moment for Asian men in American sports came on June 26, 2002 at Madison Square Garden. The Houston Rockets had just spent their number one overall draft pick on 7-5 Chinese center Yao Ming over 6-2 Duke guard Jay Williams. The largely black crowd of draft prospects and their contingents had reason to be displeased. For the past quarter century black athletes had dominated pro basketball and they saw Yao as a subversive force, an alien threat. Even Charles Barkley -- Yao's basketball idol -- sniped at Houston's choice and hinted at bad consequences.
David or Goliath?
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What's wrong with this picture?
In the global sports scene blacks have come to represent all-around athletic prowess. Asian athletes, on the other hand, have been painted as disciplined and skilled but lacking power and size, able to excel only in sports no one cares about. For an Asian to get the top pick in a black-dominated sport was heresy.
To appreciate what Yao represents to Asian American men requires a quick trip down memory lane. And we do mean quick. The lane is short and sparsely populated.
In the beginning there was Sammy Lee, the first Asian American to win Olympic gold. He did it with 10-meter platform diving at the 1948 London games and again in 1952 at the Helsinki games. Not exactly a marquee sport, but inspiring nevertheless in a time when Asian Americans hardly knew what to call themselves.
Then came Michael Chang whose 1989 French Open championship has passed into tennis legend. Cramping and down two sets to Ivan Lendl in the round of 16, the 17-year-old phenom dared to discombobulate the Ice Man with moonballs and an underhanded serve. The ploy worked. The proof that Chang's nerves and speed were real came in the classic 5-set finals victory against Stefan Edberg. But Chang's recent ignomious descent into tennis twilight raises the suspicion that he simply lacks the size and power to stay in the power game.
It wasn't until Hideo Nomo joined the Dodgers in 1995 that an Asian athlete was able to inspire sustained frenzy in one of the big-three sports. Nomo's martian windup and delivery proved so effective that he set Dodgers strikeout records, made the All-Stars and inspired Nomomania.
By 2001 when Ichiro Suzuki joined the Mariners, Asian imports taking Rookie of the Year honors had practically become a Major League tradition. But none had done it with Ichiro's flair or sunglasses. It wasn't enough that he led the game in hitting and basestealing, he seemed determined to make it look easy. Sex appeal had finally come to the image of the Asian male athlete.
But the image still lacked something in many AA minds. Sure, for a leadoff hitter Ichiro hit his share of home runs, but he was known for speed and finesse, not power. Having chafed so long under stereotypes denying them size and strength, AA men longed for a star who could knock those assumptions back into the last millennium.
Eyes turned longingly to football as the obvious arena for the ultimate stereotype smasher -- and saw only Dat Nguyen of the Dallas Cowboys. As a promising linebacker, Nguyen doesn't enjoy the cache of a star offensive back. And at 5-11 and 240 pounds, Nguyen isn't exactly in the 99th percentile in terms of size and power among football players.
Asian American eyes were drawn to basketball by a trio of giants known collectively as "The Great Wall". They were very big for the Chinese national team. First to make his NBA debut was Wang Zhizhi (7-1, 220 pounds) in April 2001. As a center for the Dallas Mavericks he has averaged 5.5 points per 10.6 minutes of playing time per game. A respectable stat for any rookie but disappointing for those who had hoped for an instant Asian star. Then came Mengke Bateer (6-11, 290 pounds) in February of 2002. Despite 15.1 minutes of play per game as a center for the Denver Nuggets, he too disappointed some with an average 5.1 points and 3.6 rebounds.
Enter the Dragon. At a height variously described as 7-5 or 7-6, Yao Ming, 22, is at once the tallest and youngest of the trio. In the past two years his weight shot up from 255 to 295 pound -- and he's still growing. His gifts extend beyond size, however. He moves a foot shorter. Born to a pair of former stars for the Chinese national teams, his court instincts and skills are practically dyed-in-the-wool.
And yet Yao isn't a lock to defy the darker prognostications of his prospects as a Rocket. He was regularly outplayed by Wang Zhizhi when both were playing in China. Even with Yao, Wang and Mengke, the Chinese national team routinely lost to second-tier powers like France and Lithuania. Yao has never gone up against the likes of Shaquille O'Neal. The adjustment to life in the U.S. will be long and difficult. In short, Yao Ming is ideally positioned to become the biggest disappointment in the history of Asians in American sports.
Is Yao Ming the next Asian superstar? Or is he more likely to reinforce the image of Asian men as also-rans in power sports?
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
I think a real factor not being discussed is not Yao Ming is whether or not the franchise will be building a team around him to reach superstar status.
Part of the equation of being a superstar NBA player is of course individual skill. However, if the teams critical plays are not centered on a particular individual, then he is just an assist or a warm pick to get around.
The other factor is his marketability. Teams will single out a few individuals in their line up for the promos. Like back in the day when they started having Shaq vs. Jordon ads, which made no sense to sport fans, since they played different positions. Of course individual performace will decide who gets choosen for these promos. However, there is a softer marketing side to be considered when they select an individuals for those ads. The bigger question is Yao that personality.
Anyways I don't follow the draft that closely so how many number 1 picks actually become superstars in the NBA, and not just the run of the mill respectable player.
AC Dropout
Tuesday, July 23, 2002 at 05:31:31 (PDT)
Dan Wang
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"No, at WORST, he'll be chinese Bradley. but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt because Bradley can't shoot jumpers. But overall, Ming's mere outside game is far from enough to be a presence in the paint. He's been playing only short and weak opponents all his life. You seriously believe Shaq or Duncan or even a whack player like Ostertag would give up the block to a tall skinny guy?"
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People kept on talking about his outside game as if that's all his Offense and perpetuate the image that he's not an inside player(on Offense). He scores more than half of his points from inside--mostly lay-ups, dunks, and hook shots!!! This is evident in 80% of the video I watched. Obviously, you haven't seen the videos I've seen. Most of his blocks came from weak-side defense and not on a 1-on-1 play! As a matter of fact, it is very difficult to block someone's shot playone 1-on-1.
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"I have seen all the clips available, and I would say his offensive game is 'soft'. A 7'5" man's shooting abilities can only carry him so far if he can't do anything else close to the basket. He doesn't take it strong enough. When I see him play, I see a guy that's not aggressive enough. I don't like watching him shoot layups, but that's what he does. WHEN YOU ARE 7-5, JAM THE M-------ER IN EVERYTIME. Shaq would have a field day with him when they meet in mid November."
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Shaq gives every defender troubler--Ming or not! Besides Shaq who in the NBA weighs more than Ming (296 lbs)? Besides, he'll play Shaq only 4 times out of 82!! So tell me how is it going to be like the other 72 games! Again, you haven't seen what I have seen!! I have seen him driving to the basket for a dunk 1-on-1. Stole a ball and drove to the basketball from half-court for a dunk.
Besides the jump-shot that you only saw, I have seen his hook shot(with both hands) and his fade-away. I'll agree with you that he does not play aggressive enough.
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"That's what they said about Wang Zhi Zhi. Granted, Wang does have some offensive abilities, but in the NBA, he can't guard a trash can. The competition in China is just so weak that most of these players never learn to play any fundamental D. Ming loses a lot of advantage becuase his wingspan is not that great (it's less than his height), and he has a credit card length vertical leap. Just because he's tall, it doesn't automatically mean he can play D."
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Ming has a wingspan of a 7'1"layer. How many players are 7'1" or taller? Besides
he has 4-inch advantage over 7'1" people.
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"Look at Bradley. He gets dunked on the regular by much smaller dudes with hops, and Bradley's 7'7"."
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So are you telling me that Shaq, Hakeem, Robinson, Alonzo,.. etc.. have never been dunked on? by 6' guards? KJ dunking over Dream?
"On the regular"? you mean when Bradley was standing 10 ft from the basket?
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"I can see the same with Ming because he's too soft. He should utililize his height and be more authoritative on the court, pound around inside the paint. The big man shouldn't be camping out 15-20 feet away. It's good he has a repetoire for range, but he needs to play some inside power game, damn it! I want to see him post up, spin, or drop step and dunk. non of that pansy game that's a waste of height."
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People have different means or moves to score 2. Some dunk, some shoot, some lays it, and some just tosses it up. 2 points is 2 points! The MAIN reason why players post up close to the paint is to score at a high percentage! Does Ming's 72%FG from ChBA or his 75%FG from the recent tournament tel you anything???? As a matter of fact, he's using his height to his advantage, unlike what you believe; he shoots/hooks over his defender at makes it at a high percentage.
From what I saw, he lingers within 15 feet of the basket most of the time!!
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"The defensive pressure that he will face in the NBA is many times what the CBA had ever offer. Ask Wang. Ask Bateere. Heck, even Bateer was an offensive threat in China, but look what he's doing in Denver: fouling out every other game and scoring 4-5 points."
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I have already agreed with you about his defense.
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"Dude. We're in the age where 6'8" guards are common and 7'0" small forwards are on the same floor. This isn't 1950 anymore. EVERY TEAM IN THE LEAGUE HAS A 7 FOOT CENTER OR 3. and most of them start. Being 7 foot center is no big deal, and they all got longer wingspans than Ming. And like I said, Ming can't jump. and he's slow on his moves. Check out his spin move from one of your video highlight clips. Damn, it's like Sloooooooooooooow-motion. That kind of move might work on a stoned defender in China, but nobody's going to let him go anywhere with that in the league. The pace of the NBA is so much faster than what he's ever experienced in his life."
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Didn't I say that he played against centers ranging from 6'11" to 7'3"??
Dude, do your research! Atlanta and Golden State do not have a 7 footer on their team! Right... most, about 55%-60%, 7-footer centers start and the average starting center height is about 7'! Ming still has 5 inches over them!
His turnaround jumper is slow? Yes it's very slooooow for a 6'5" guard! Do not compare How many 7-foot centers can do it faster??
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"Ask Oregon Christenson (sp?), who easily blocked Ming's soft attempts to the basket."
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Yes Chris blocked his lay-ups--not his hook shot or jumper!! Also Chris has a vertical of 9'10" while Ming has a vertical of 9'7"!
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"He thinks he's steve kerr. That's not enough. If he had Duncan's game with that height, ahhh, then that would be something. but no, he doesn't have the athletic ability nor the aggressive mentality. Might take time, but as of right now, he's faaaaaaaaaaaar from what i expect from a #1 pick. Height is not enough in the NBA if you don't have the polished skills."
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He DOES NOT hang around at the arc like Wang!!
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"Yeah, against dudes that are 6'7" or 6'9". But in the league, 7'1" KG would fly out of nowhere to swat his shot."
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Again, you're comparing apples to oranges! Dude, Ming IS a center! Centers he played against at the tournament were 6'11" to 7'3" and most were over 7-footers! Even in the ChBA, almost very team has a 7-footer! Do the 7-footers play point guard? NO, they play center! And centers guard center. KG swatting Ming's shot? really? Did you see how he shot over KG at the Olympics effortlessly and scored?? That was 2 years ago and now he's improved.
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"Yugoslavia had like a B or C class team. no Peja, no Vlade. just a bunch of no nmaes. And who did Austrailia have? Chris Antsey? oh yeaah, he's tough!"
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Does it matter if they have Peja or not? Does he play center? Europeans play aggressive defense and that team was as good a defensive team as their best! Offensively, the better Yugo team would be much better! Besides the tight defense they played, they also doubled and tripled team Ming. Despite the double and triple teams he still managed 20-13-4.
> The only problem I see is that he'll
> have trouble guarding guys one-on-
> one; which may lead to foul trouble.
OK, GOOD! FINALLY, you concede to some of his weakness. YES, I'm sure he will have a lot of trouble in that. Just like Mengke in Denver or Wang in Dallas/Golden State or whatever, Yao is going to have an extremely difficult time adjusting to the pace of the players over here. Even aging centers here are quicker than most guards in China. I just hope Yao is getting good conditioning now because if he doesn't, he'll get tired by the 2nd quarter, which would make him seem even less effective later in the game.
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"I HIGHLY DISAGREE. Don't get me wrong. I want the best for him, but let's be realistic here and stop using cultural blood as the reason to support your views. When he arrives, he's going to have a hellavua time adjusting to everything: the defense, the power, the rules, the intensity, the speed. All are greater in NBA by significant margins. I just hope the Rockets are wise and develop him gradually. Or else he'd be exposed as the biggest bust since Kwame Brown. Hell no, he's not going to be effective in his first year. He has too much to learn. Look at Wang, the guy that kicked Ming's ass for years in China. Wang has already been playing the the NBA for 2 years, and he still can't break the starting lineup."
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Maybe we have different definitions of a "impact player." One doesn't have to average 20-10-3 to be an impact player! His team needs rebounding and weak-side defense/blocking(not 1-on-1) because of the poor or lack of defense by Houston's guards! He won't even be the top 3 offensive option. If you have watched any of Houston's games you would know what they're missing. Often Francis drives in and dishes to Cato--Cato either misses or loses the ball. Now wouldn't Ming help here? There's more but this post is already too long!
What I'm saying is that he'll help his team win more games.
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"At BEST, he'd be a Rik Smits, and I would hardly consider him to be the most dominant center. Yea, a Rik Smits is alright, but I'd rather have Shaq, or a Hakeem, or a Jabbar."
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Right he won't be domninant like Shaq or probably not even Hakeem. But he will be a dominant CENTER--meaning better than other centers. Shaq will retire in a few years. So will Alonzo, Robinson, and Mutombo. Who else is left that you think will be better than Ming in 4-5 years? The 6'10" PFs who pretend to be centers? Have you even seen Rik Smits play? Have you also seen Ming play a game? At 21 he's already playing like Smits. Of course unless you think he's already in his prime he'll be like Smits.
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"Who cares? It's hoops. Nobody cares if you are smart or articulate. Moses Malone and Shaq weren't exactly scholars, but what coach would care about stuff like that?"
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Would you agree with me that good decision-making has something to do with intelligence? ...and that some basketball plays depends on good decision-making? Intelligence doesnt imply good bball playing, but a skilled bball player combined with intelligence helps on the court! Maybe a more appropriate term would be basketball IQ.
Anyway, I said "aside from basketball," which I didn't intend it to have any relevance with basketball, but I'll give my views on your comment anyway. My intention was to note that that'd make him a very likable bball-player.
Although I am Chinese, I am being very impartial. Not that this would help with anything but...I have played bball for the past 14 years and not just some passive bball fan.
To sum up my views. I don't think Ming will become another Shaq or Hakeem. He will eventually be better Rik Smits -- hence an all-start player (Rik Smits was for .. I think.. 3 years).
Mike
MikeM
Monday, July 22, 2002 at 21:05:37 (PDT)
To Dan Wang,
Don't believe NBA players' heights unless you see the players yourselves. I personally met Kenny Smith, the ex houston rockets guard, myself few years back. That guy is only 5'8", but in the NBA he's 6'4". Also, Howard Stein quesioned Magic John's height in his show cos he is level with Magic and Stein is 6'5" only. There aren't so many 6'8" guards or 7'0" small forwards in real life.
FOP
Monday, July 22, 2002 at 10:39:40 (PDT)
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