The Houston Rockets announced yesterday that center Yao Ming will miss the rest of the season with a stress fracture in his left ankle.
The 30-year-old center and seven-time All-Star, the first overall pick in the 2002 draft, was the first international player to be drafted #1 by an NBA team without having played college basketball in the United States. He has averaged 19 PPG, 9.2 RPG and 1.6 APG. He made the All-NBA Second Team twice, and the All-NBA Third Team three times.
However, Yao missed all of last year and has by and large been injury-plagued after his first three years in the league. After playing in 82 games his first two years, and 80 in his second, he went 57-48-55. He played 77 games in the '08-09 season before getting injured in the second round of the playoffs, and has only played five games this year.
I hope Yao's career isn't over. I've always liked him. However, do you think it's safe to say that his best playing days are behind him?
EDIT: Didn't see the operative word "international" in the "first player to be selected without playing U.S. college basketball" statement on the Wikipedia page. Good call.
(edited by ekedolphin on 19.12.10 1824) "Justice has a name. And the name it has, besides 'justice', is Captain Hammer." --The Mayor, Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-Long Blog
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Wow. That really sucks for Yao. That has to be the end for him, right? Really a shame.
The 30-year-old center and seven-time All-Star, the first overall pick in the 2002 draft, was the first player to be drafted #1 by an NBA team without having played college basketball in the United States.
Not exactly. Yao never played any form of basketball in the U.S. before he was drafted, but Kwame Brown was selected #1 straight out of high school in 2001.
That sucks, he seemed like a good guy and he was fun to watch. He's done a lot for the NBA opening the doors to the far east.
It's another lesson on how you can't play a guy that size more than 25 minutes a game no matter how good or how young he is, because the wear and tear will catch up to them.
Can a team afford to pay the next great big man that much to play so little while building almost two lineups at once? I doubt it.
I wonder if Houston can get any value for him and if they can, trade him or do something because his career is over now. Not exactly Sam Bowie or Greg Oden because Ming had some good, productive years, but the injury bug seems to have a permanent fix on him now. I hope that Yao Ming can recover but I just don't see it happening from here on in.
Originally posted by The GameI hope that Yao Ming can recover but I just don't see it happening from here on in.
Yeah, right now it's almost to the point where I hope he can recover so he can live a productive, pain-free post-playing life. (But not quite. It's not like he's an NFL running back or anything, or has had spinal injuries).
"Justice has a name. And the name it has, besides 'justice', is Captain Hammer." --The Mayor, Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-Long Blog
Fan of the Indianapolis Colts (Super Bowl XLI Champions), Indiana Pacers and Washington Nationals
Certified RFMC Member-- Ask To See My Credentials!
Co-Winner of Time's Person of the Year Award, 2006
Heh. Of course I'm not easily confused with a Hornets fan, but if I were them, I'd say “Thanks for the memories, Jamal, but don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out.” He's not as good as he once was, and he slows down the offense.