But Yi, the fourth Chinese player to join the NBA after Menk Bateer, Wang Zhizhi and Yao, believes China has what it takes to reach its Olympic goal of exceeding its Athens finish.

"Though we don't have so many NBA players like Spain or Argentina, the improvement we made over the past four years gives us confidence that we are able to play good basketball at the Games," he told Sohu.com.

"The team played more international games than before and all the players are more experienced and they have a lot of knowledge about their overseas rivals. So I think we can be a force at the Games."

NBA experience

After a standoff with the lowly Bucks franchise following the NBA draft in June, Yi, dubbed an "unofficial ambassador between China and Milwaukee" by Bucks fans, started the first 48 games of the season, averaging 8.7 points and 6.1 rebounds as a starter. It was the second-best scoring average among all rookies, followed only by Seattle's presumptive Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant.

But his performance suffered a steep decline after the all-star break, as he was bothered by wrist and shoulder injuries. There was speculation that he had hit the so-called "rookie wall".

Yi agreed it was a case of fatigue.

"I want to play good and that's what I'm trying to do," Yi told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (jsonline.com) through his interpreter. "Right now, the reason I feel I'm playing not so good is that I'm tired. I've been playing since last summer, all through this season, all these games without a stop."

Yi's coach and teammates can understand his weariness.

"I just wanted him to keep his head up and chin up and keep battling," Bucks coach Larry Krystkowiak told the Milwaukee paper. "It was just a pat on the back and a reminder that all players go through different stuff in the league - ups and downs - and to not let it get to him. He's as hard on himself as anybody, so I was reminding him to have some patience with himself."

"All rookies go through it, no matter who you are," Bucks point guard Mo Williams said. "It's a lot mental now. He has to just continue to work and get better ... just get better with everything."

(China Daily April 11, 2008)