Brife introduction:  

 

Name: Yao Ming

 

Postion: Center

 

Nickname: Ming Dynasty (USA), Little Giant (China)

 

Born: 09/12/1980

 

Origin: Shanghai, China

 

Status: Active

 

Height: 7-6/2,26m

 

Weight: 296lbs./134,3kg.

 

Schools: Shanghai Sports College, Shanghai Physical & Sport Technic Education Institute, Shanghai Foreign Language Institute

 

Drafted: 2002, First Round, 1st overall pick by the Houston Rockets

 

Languages: Chinese (Mandarin) and English

 

Website: YaoMing.net & InterBasket

 

Teams (Jersey): Chinese National Team (13) Shanghai Sharks (15) Houston Rockets (11)

 

IBN Notes: Never has a combination of awesome size and skills come together in one package, what makes this combination odd is that it comes from far East, not exactly a hotbed for basketball prospects.  But there he stands, 7-5 and 300lbs, Yao Ming is the center of the future; a better shooter than most point guards and definitely a lot more skilled than most centers, Ming has all the tools to be successful, but as of this writing, Yao lacks only the aggression and attitude that will propel him from promising pivot to complete domination of the center position.

 

 

Yao Ming --a magnificent basketball player

 

HOUSTON - Yao Ming made it clear early that he belonged on the same court with Shaquille O'Neal. And the 7-foot-6 Chinese rookie was there at the end to score the biggest basket of the game.

 

In one of the most hyped matchups of the season, Yao blocked O'Neal's first three shots, altered Kobe Bryant's attempt at the end of regulation and dunked with 10.2 seconds left as Houston beat the Los Angeles Lakers 108-104 in overtime Friday night.

 

Yao's big start didn't last very long. He faded in the mid-portion of the game but he came back in the closing minutes to help the Rockets pull out the overtime victory. O'Neal outscored his young rival and also gained Yao's respect.

 

"He's like a truck," Yao said, happy to have his first game against O'Neal over. "I felt like I was under water for a long time and now I could finally breathe."

 

O'Neal, finished with the better statistical line - 31 points, 13 rebounds and four assists to Yao's 10 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks.

 

"At the beginning, I told myself I'd do my best because he is one of the most important parts of the Lakers," Yao said. "I don't know how to describe it because I've never encountered someone that strong."

 

The Yao-Shaq battle was almost overshadowed by the exciting game and by Steve Francis, who scored a career-high 44 points and turned a broken play into the biggest play of the game when he passed to Yao for a dunk with 10.2 left in overtime for a 104-100 lead.

 

"He's a classy guy," O'Neal said of Yao. "I was looking forward to playing him. He's a great player. It's another challenge for me."

 

Cuttino Mobley added 29 for Houston and for the Lakers, Kobe Bryant shot just 5-for-21 and finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.

 

A sellout crowd of 16,285 delighted at the start when Yao made three of his first four shots, missed his next seven - all of them turnarounds and fadeaways, and made his last one - the dunk that gave Houston a 104-100 lead.

 

Francis hit one of his six 3-point baskets with 13 seconds left in regulation play for a 92-92 tie.

 

O'Neal scored the Lakers' first six points of overtime, all of them with impressive power moves against Yao. The final one was a dunk with 1:27 left that cut Houston's lead to 99-98.

 

O'Neal then committed a flagrant foul against Francis, and coach Phil Jackson got a technical for arguing. The three free throws made it 102-98. Yao was called for a foul trying to block Robert Horry's dunk attempt with 33.6 seconds remaining, and the two free throws made it a two-point game.

 

For all of his scoring, Francis' pass to Yao was also a big contribution to the victory.

 

"It was a broken play, like a quarterback scrambling," Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "Everyone was running at Steve and it was like he was about to be sacked. Then he broke through to Yao. Touchdown."

 

Yao and O'Neal exchanged handshakes and a brief hug as they walked off the court.

 

Prior to the opening tip, O'Neal walked up to Yao and said something into his ear, drawing a smile and a nod from Yao. The Rockets usually have Eddie Griffin jump for the opening tip, but this time Francis motioned to Yao that be should do the honors against O'Neal.

 

Referee Dick Bavetta tossed the ball up, and O'Neal won the tip.