<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">At 7-foot-6, Yao was already one of China's biggest sports stars -- quite literally -- after entering the NBA in 2002 as the No. 1 draft pick. But he won even more fans back home for leading China to the Asian basketball championship in 2003 and helping his national team reach the quarterfinals of the Athens Games. However, the challenges of year-round basketball and travel have taken a toll. His commitments to China's national team have limited his ability to improve his conditioning and skills in the offseason and he is often hurt by fatigue during the grueling NBA season. ``What you want and what happens is not totally in your control,'' Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. ``Everybody understood there were going to be other commitments that he was going to have to honor. We respect Yao for honoring his commitments.'' Sitting at the Rockets' arena Monday before he and his Houston teammates scattered for the offseason, Yao said he'd consider playing for China in the Asian Games, which start July 19 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, but wouldn't commit to doing much else for the summer. ``The first thing about my summer is I don't want any scheduling,'' Yao said. ``I don't want to wake up and think about what I need to do.'' The Rockets already have drafted an offseason program in case he sticks around. An MRI exam will determine if he needs surgery to remove loose particles from his left ankle, followed by rehabilitation and training in Houston for at least a couple of months. Rockets strength and conditioning coach Anthony Falsone, who traveled to China with Yao and trained the Chinese national team last summer, has marveled at Yao's durability and on-court production despite a schedule that leaves little time for improvement. ``He's gotten tremendously better in a lot of ways,'' Falsone said. ``He takes a lot of criticism but playing year-round basketball is not easy. It's hard to recover.'' </div> Source
Since the next Asian Games(Doha,Qatar) will be next year Yao could use the summer to rest, to condition himself as well as to participate in the Summer League. The basketball event in Kuala Lumpur this coming July is just a minor one, besides China is the powerhouse in Asian Basketball so they still can manage to win that tournament without Yao.
The rumor wasn't accurate. Yao confirmed he would definitely come back 2 China by the enda June after the therapy and we would be able to see him on Asia Tournament in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia July 18
So I have a question for Rockets fans, if he does decide to play in Asia again in the summer, does it bother you that he wouldn't rather do the off-season conditioning program to prepare for the NBA season next year? Do you even think playing year-round basketball affects his performance in the NBA playoffs? If it is proven that it negatively affects his NBA play, do you think he should stop playing year round?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kingrex:</div><div class="quote_post">So I have a question for Rockets fans, if he does decide to play in Asia again in the summer, does it bother you that he wouldn't rather do the off-season conditioning program to prepare for the NBA season next year? Do you even think playing year-round basketball affects his performance in the NBA playoffs? If it is proven that it negatively affects his NBA play, do you think he should stop playing year round?</div> Even if he wanted to do that, I doubt that the way his contract is signed would allow him to. Of course, Yao could pull a Wang ZhiZhi and just refuse to play for China outright, but Yao's popularity in China would drop tremendously, because the way the media would cover his action would portray him as sort of a traitor to the country. That wouldn't be great for the NBA, and would make getting out of China for future young players virtually impossible. It surely affects his NBA play, but I think he is obliged to play for his country.
They just want money, and it pisses me off. The promoters, and the government, all they want is money. Let Yao win a championship, then the money will cart itself to you.
Even though I (like most Rockets fans) would rather Yao spend the summer here in Houston, resting and training with all the big names who come down to train at Westside(Shaq, etc.) I do realize that there are few greater honors a man can hold higher than duty to his god and country. When we decided to get Yao, we knew going in that he for at least four years he would have to live with the fact that during the summer he would be playing for the Chinese National Team. I hate the fact that our Rockets staff can't take full advantage of having Yao with them for a full summer of training however I do understand the magnitude of what Yao is doing for his country. For everyone that criticizes him for playing for the Chinese in the summers, one just need to step into his shoes. Say you play basketball in Europe but you have a committment to play for your home country in international basketball in the summers. Are you willing to tell me that you would not honor your country by not playing for it against international competition?
Think of it this way. Lets pretend the NBA is based in China. Shaquille O'neal, the most dominant basketball player in the US decides to enter the NBA. He gets drafted #1. As he improves every year you become very proud of him. You're so exited to see him when he returns to the US to play in the America Games. All of a sudden he decides he rather stay in China than come play some games in the US. You as a fan are crushed and feel betrayed by your hometown Hero.
I certainly hope Yao doesn't necessarily have to go back to China. He need some time to have a thorough relax. But it's a deal he made with China basketball association and he personally seems willin to do that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting JuLiO-R-:</div><div class="quote_post">Think of it this way. Lets pretend the NBA is based in China. Shaquille O'neal, the most dominant basketball player in the US decides to enter the NBA. He gets drafted #1. As he improves every year you become very proud of him. You're so exited to see him when he returns to the US to play in the America Games. All of a sudden he decides he rather stay in China than come play some games in the US. You as a fan are crushed and feel betrayed by your hometown Hero.</div> If he still plays International ball for China, then he is still the hometownh Hero. I don't think that Yao should play in China naymore, for the Rockets sake, but he should continue playing for the international Chinese team. I'm from Australia, and the Australian Bball captain, Shane Heal, is currently playing in Europe. He doesn't play in Australia at all anymore, but continues to represent Australia in the national team. Its like being dissaopinted that Luc Longley (Australia's most successful baller in history) didn't play for Australia. I don't feel betrayed, but its a shame coz we could've used his help.
Chinese don't agree <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"China's basketball association said Monday it expects Houston Rockets star Yao Ming to play for his national team in the Asian Championships in September, likely stamping on his plans to spend the summer resting. Yao has divided his time between Houston and China's national team since joining the NBA in 2002, keeping him playing almost year-round. "As a member of the China National Team, Yao Ming must come back to play for China, according to the contract," said Li Jinsheng, a spokesman for the China Basketball Association." SI.com</div> source Seems that they have a difference of opinion.
I think it's great that he plays for his country.. I'm Canadian and Steve Nash played for the national team for 10 years before finally conceding to the fact that his body could no longer handle the wear and tear. I think once Yao hits age 30 then he will have to really worry about taking offseasons off from the national team. I do think the National team can help him out by playing him limited minutes when China is winning big against crappy teams.
no <div class="quote_poster">Quoting johnny33:</div><div class="quote_post">I think it's great that he plays for his country.. I'm Canadian and Steve Nash played for the national team for 10 years before finally conceding to the fact that his body could no longer handle the wear and tear. I think once Yao hits age 30 then he will have to really worry about taking offseasons off from the national team. I do think the National team can help him out by playing him limited minutes when China is winning big against crappy teams.</div> He needs the rest NOW. He cant wait untill he is 30. Unlike Nash, a PG, he isnt full of energy, he is 7'5 and 260 which forces him to expand a lot of energy. Every year he tails off at the end. This year in March and February combined he had only 5 games with 10 or more rebounds which is in contrast with the two months before that where he had 11 double-digit rebound games. He needs the rest so by the end of the NBA season he isnt worn out.
First off, Yao is 7-6 and 315. Secondly, the decrease in rebounding numbers is in part because of the introduction of Howard into the starting lineup, who has become a much better rebounder than Mo Taylor who was a horrible rebounder. Besides, Yao can get 15 boards a game if he wants, but he often just taps them to a teammate or box out his man and let them get it. In a world of stats, that is not good for Yao but a Yao tap to teammate is just as good as one that he gets full credit for. It's not like Yao will play all summer. He will most likely spend two months tops to train for the Asian Games, giving him two other months to do whatever he wants.
