Yao Ming was a bag of nerves watching the NBA Draft in Shanghai
five years ago. He should have been over the moon when his name was
called out first by NBA commissioner David Stern, but instead all
he could manage was a shy smile and a stiff high-five with his
parents and coaches.
Yi Jianlian is the leading light for a new generation of Chinese
basketballers, and there is no way he'll look quite so awkward on
draft night.
"I know there will be an introduction of the Draft prospects. I
think the best idea I can come up with is to ride a bicycle onto
the stage, and let everybody know I am from China. What do you
think?" joked Yi, who arrived in New York from Los Angeles
yesterday. "I am looking forward to the Draft. I am very excited
and I have some expectations for myself."
The 19-year-old power forward represents one of the most
intriguing storylines of the 2007 NBA Draft at Madison Square
Garden tomorrow morning Beijing time, and his presence at the
extravaganza is proof enough of the changing nature of Chinese
basketball.
"I will wear a made-to-measure suit. It is a very formal place,
so I am not going wear any fancy clothes."
With hip-hop on his iPod and a taste for limited edition
sneakers, Yi certainly looks and sounds the part.
Unlike Yao, who didn't get a taste of American culture until the
pre-season games in 2002 due to lengthy negotiations between the
Houston Rockets and the Chinese Basketball Association, Yi has
embraced the western lifestyle since he arrived in Los Angeles from
Shenzhen three months ago.
He has attended movie premieres of "Shrek" and "Pirates of the
Caribbean" and successfully navigated LA's complicated highway
system. He can chat with his trainers and other American players in
English thanks to the hour-long English classes arranged by his
agent Dan Fegan.
"The training in LA helped a lot," said Yi, who had previously
visited United States for the 2002 Adidas ABCD Camp in New Jersey
and Pete Newell Big Man's camp in Las Vegas in 2003. "It has helped
me get stronger technically and get used to the American lifestyle.
I didn't find there is anything very different about the United
States, I feel comfortable with everything here."
Despite impressing many observers with his offensive attributes
and athleticism, Yi's stock has slid somewhat due to an unusual
workout process designed by Fegan.
Yi has remained in Los Angeles and representatives of just seven
teams, including Boston Cetlics, Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns,
have been allowed to see him in the flesh.
The policy has raised red flags among some observers - for
example, leading website Draftexpress.com has moved him down from a
peak 3rd pick to 10th.
Yi says he doesn't care how high he goes, lending credence to
the theory that he is more concerned about destination than draft
position.
"I don't think the ranking really matters to me and I don't
think it makes any difference except the top two picks," said Yi.
"I don't care what they say about me. They have the right to say
anything about me, good or bad. No 5 or No 8, I don't care at
all.
"The first three years on my contract are so important for me so
I want a team that really wants me and fits me. Of course I know
it's not up to me to select a team, it is the team that picks
me."
Yi will be the fourth Chinese to play in NBA following Yao, Wang
Zhizhi and Menke Bateer. While Yi is expected to be more of a
success than the latter two, he will be vying for attention with a
stellar crowd of rookies.
Greg Oden, Kevin Durant and Al Horford form the core of a draft
that is the strongest since the 2003 crop that included LeBron
James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade.
"I will feel very good making it to the NBA. I still remember
the first time I watched a game live in 2001, it was amazing to see
how fast and strong they were. I told myself: 'I want to play there
some day.'" Yi said. "But I am not going to say this is the biggest
dream in my life, this is just a start. I call it the first step of
my career."
Chinese interest in the draft does not end with Yi.
National teammate Sun Yue appears to have an outside chance of
being taken in the second round, and has been busy working out with
teams after an impressive showing at the pre-draft camp in
Orlando.
He recently worked out with Dallas Mavericks, who hold the 34th,
50th and 60th picks, and local media reports said team management
were impressed by his passing ability.
(China Daily via Agencies June 28, 2007)
