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Backtalk: Lofty Ambitions
In 2000, a 19-year-old center
from China wowed the world at the Sydney Olympics. Now,
the 232-cm Yao Ming has a U.S. agent. Former Bayi Rocket
Wang Zhizhi plays for the Mavericks, and Yao told Crystyl
Mo he wants to go to the NBA too. And soon |
Are you a natural?
No. I started when I was nine. But I wasn't particularly
good. It was just that every year when everyone else would
grow five centimeters, I would grow six or seven. You know,
after a few years that sort of difference starts to add up.
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| Yao Ming vs Shaq |
Did your parents pressure you to
play?
No, my parents had me play basketball because everyone should
have something they know how to do. They were basketball players,
but they never said to me "you must play basketball."
You visited the U.S. in 1998. Did you already feel you were
a great player?
I realized I had talent. Before that, it was just like practicing
behind a closed door, I had no way to compare myself with
foreigners. I had no way to see what my own level really was.
Right now, in China, I don't have any opponents. Nationally,
I'm the best. But once you get out of the country - to Europe
or the U.S. - you find they have even better players. If I
can't have that level of competition, that environment, I
have no way to continue improving.
Do you think you'll get in to the NBA?
In the end I'll definitely go. I just don't know when. In
China I'm at the top. If I want to keep improving I have to
change my environment. The best thing is to do it as soon
as possible. The sooner the better, as far as I'm concerned.
What are your greatest strengths?
Defense [in English]. Even though I still don't know how to
spell the word! I only know the first letter is D.
Your weaknesses?
My arms are too skinny! I have to exercise to make them stronger.
In China, it's not so obvious. But in the Olympics, I noticed
that this was a problem I need to work on. When I went to
Sydney, I felt that as a team we had some problems. But in
terms of me as an individual I felt that if you gave me some
more time - I'm just 21 - if I had the opportunity I could
get to that level too.
Did you notice differences between the coaching styles in
China and in the U.S.?
In the States they pay a lot of attention to every detail,
like exactly what angle to hold your elbows when you're making
a certain kind of shot - that sort of thing. In China we don't
talk about that kind of stuff as much. We're still developing.
The Chinese Basketball Association is only five years old
now. We have a long way to go.
You have a girlfriend?
That's a question I'm scared to answer. But, no, I don't.
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