The stars came out Tuesday in Chicago for Yao Ming.
Jerry West was there. Pat Riley was there. Quentin Richardson was there. Chris Christoffersen was there . . . not that Kris Kristofferson.
Barbra Streisand wasn’t there, and it’s not clear whether a star was born.
“He impressed everyone,” said Richardson, the former DePaul star now with the Los Angeles Clippers. “But I think if you switched all these faces and these were guys in the league sitting here, actual NBA players [rather than coaches and general managers], they would not be as impressed.
“They would be surprised with some of the things he could do. But once you get on the court, all those individual skills don’t matter.”
Yao, the 7-foot-5-inch center from China, drew 150 media members and about 70 NBA team officials to a Wednesday workout at Loyola’s Alumni Gym. The 21-year-old is entering next month’s NBA draft. And while he can shoot the ball, run the court, pass, dribble and dunk–of course–can a man trained in the regimented Chinese society become a force, or even a factor, in the NBA?
Yao looked like a player who had practiced skills for years, almost to the point of perfection. But according to NBA executives who asked not to be quoted, he appeared to lack speed and reaction and could be a defensive liability despite his height. He weighs just 235 pounds and appeared to tire quickly. It might take him years to grow accustomed to the speed of the NBA game.
Former NBA coach P.J. Carlesimo ran the workout and predicted greatness for Yao . . . with a caveat.
“The one thing about the NBA I don’t think anyone understands,” Carlesimo said, “is the athletic ability, the size, strength and quickness of the players. It’s at another level.”
Whether Yao can get to that level and how quickly is a question that will face several teams before the draft. The Bulls and Golden State have the best chance in the lottery later this month to land the No. 1 pick. It’s clear Yao’s country would like him to be in a city like Chicago; he agreed to individual workouts for the Bulls, Knicks and Warriors, teams from markets with big Asian populations.
“We asked, but they said they didn’t have time,” said West, who just took over as the Memphis Grizzlies’ basketball chief. “I guess there’s not a lot of Chinese in Memphis. But if he is available and that’s who we want, we’ll draft him.”
Yao speaks some English, but had a translator on the court with him during the drills. He declined to be interviewed, but released a curious statement which read, in part:
“It’s been a dream of mine to play in the NBA ever since the first time I saw a game on TV many years ago. To almost touch that dream today fills me with a sense of joy that words cannot simply describe. I am humbled and grateful for the unforgettable experience of the past few days.
“I hope I have not disappointed you with my performance today. Proper credit is also due to members of the media . . . your resourcefulness and work ethic are something I think we players should emulate. Journalism is a profession I respect a great deal. Just give me some time to warm up. I look forward to taking each and every one of you to dinner sometime in the future. But the check is on you if your reporting makes me look bad.
“Let the good times roll!”
Rasheed Wallace couldn’t have said it better.
Yao has been in Chicago since late Monday, dined with Bulls brass Wednesday night and will work out for the Bulls on Thursday in Deerfield. He is expected to leave Friday to begin training for his Chinese team. He averaged 32.4 points this season to rank second in the league, which raises the question of where the leading scorer was.
Ming arrived in a black stretch limousine, which suggests he’s thinking like an NBA player already.
His drill was typical for potential draft choices. He went through some light running and stretching, then did fullcourt running drills, shooting and some post work with Christoffersen, a 7-2 center who played at Oregon. Also involved were Cordell Henry, the 5-10 point guard from Young High School and Marquette who brought his buddy Richardson along, and Northwestern assistant Mitch Henderson, who played at Princeton.
It was hardly a taxing workout. “My biggest thing was to try to come in and make him look good, let him showcase himself,” Christoffersen said.
Ming’s shooting was impressive, and he showed range close to three-point distance. He seemed most comfortable facing the basket. His legs are thick and his body is shaped like an obelisk, thinning toward the top. West likened him to 7-4 former Pacers center Rik Smits
Asked if Yao projected to the level of centers he has played with or acquired–Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal–West quickly responded, “He’s not any of those guys.
“If he were, you would know who was going No. 1,” he said. “Smits is a good comparison. This guy is big, but he’s more of a finesse player at this point. Everyone would like to see him play closer to the basket. His biggest challenge will be on the defensive end.”
A bigger challenge awaits the team with the first or second draft pick. Do you take Duke’s Jason Williams, who seems a sure impact player? Or do you go for Yao, who may have a huge upside? Or maybe he’s just a solid contributor.
That he’ll be taken No. 1 “is the general consensus,” Denver Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said. “As the old saying goes, you can’t teach 7-foot-5.”
But do you win with it?
Excerpts from Yao Ming’s statement
“Proper credit is also due to the members of the media. The game of cat ‘n’ mouse is stressful, but your resourcefulness and work ethic are something I think we players should emulate.
. . . Just give me some time to warm up. I look forward to taking each and every one of you to dinner sometime in the future. But the check is on you if your reporting makes me look bad.”
To fans: “You gave me the greatest job on earth. And I promise to repay your trust by respecting the game and by challenging myself to be the best I can be.
Let the good times roll!”
