<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">HARBIN, China (AFP) - They are big, tall and young, they have gigantic wing spans and tremendous potential, but it will take years to see whether a new generation of Asian seven-foot (2.12 meters) basketball players have what it takes to play in the world's most prestigious league. Long dominated by Chinese big men like Yao Ming, Wang Zhizhi and Menke Batere -- all centers in the NBA -- this year's Asian Basketball Championships has been marked by a number of non-Chinese big men who are hoping to change the face of hoops in Asia. South Korea 's 2.23 meter (seven-foot three inch) center Ha Seung-Jin and young Iranian center Jaber Rozbehani Darrehsari, also 2.23 meters, have been in the spotlight in Harbin leaving players and coaches gasping at their potential and guessing at what they can bring to Asian basketball. Despite getting little playing time in the ongoing championships, Jaber turned heads when he held NBA All Star Yao Ming to 15 points and 10 rebounds in a first round match last week. His mere presence on the floor appeared to deter the Houston Rockets center from making many dominant moves around the basket as the Chinese team explored other scoring options in their 93-69 win over Iran. "Don't compare him to Yao Ming, there is no way that you can compare the two," Iranian coach Hassan Nour Bakhsh said. "Jaber is only 17 years old, he has come here to study, not to play."</div> Full Article: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=afp-...v=afp&type=lgns
Not to sound completely ignorant but are there no "normal" basketball players in Asia? You know 6'7" or 6'8" with wicked handles and a propensity towards monster dunks? Why are all of the players seven and a half feet? Where are they cloning these guys? I?ve seen pictures of a few of them playing and it?s odd to see them on the floor surrounded by guys that make Mugsey Bogues look like a power forward. How is it that It?s 7?+ or 5?nothing? There's gotta be a midrange (height) player in Asia right now just itching to play SG in the L. Also are these guys any good or are they just really big? Here?s hoping that they?re both.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting How_High78:</div><div class="quote_post">Not to sound completely ignorant but are there no "normal" basketball players in Asia? You know 6'7" or 6'8" with wicked handles and a propensity towards monster dunks? Why are all of the players seven and a half feet? Where are they cloning these guys? I?ve seen pictures of a few of them playing and it?s odd to see them on the floor surrounded by guys that make Mugsey Bogues look like a power forward. How is it that It?s 7?+ or 5?nothing? There's gotta be a midrange (height) player in Asia right now just itching to play SG in the L. Also are these guys any good or are they just really big? Here?s hoping that they?re both.</div> there are. its similar in other places. generally the first players comming from europe were fowards and centers...its taken years for the rest of the positions to transmigrate.... africa has produced centers, but hardly any other position.
I believe that the area where these players are coming from, on average, has the tallest population. That's why you hardly see any guards coming in from where these guys are.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting sunsfan1357:</div><div class="quote_post">I believe that the area where these players are coming from, on average, has the tallest population. That's why you hardly see any guards coming in from where these guys are.</div> the players they spotlight in the article are from south korea and iran. i think you are talking about a province in china. ha seung jin.. played 4 minutes against china in the final game of the tournament. in 4 minutes of playing he manged to committ 4 fouls on yao. hes athletic for his size and huge, but still very very raw.
Philippines can produce the smaller players with wicked handles that you guys are asking...although some will be small for NBA standards...there are some 6'+ players playing the 1 or 2 spot...or a 5'10 guard who's cat quick...also, there are a lot of half breeds...Fil-Americans...Fil-Tongan dominating the Philippine Basketball Association. Sadly, the players lack exposure...for example...we didn't send out the best players for the ABC Championship...just some players who couldn't play in the big league...we do send out the best for the Asian Games...but we lack the preparation...the team will be put together with a few months to go before the league...unlike these Chinese players who's been playing together for years...the Philippine team was beaten by a last second 3point shot by the south koreans during the semis...who beat the Chinese in the finals... if you want...you can check out www.pba.com.ph
