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Yao Ming Positive to Join NBA Next Season
Chinese sensation Yao Ming said there is no obstacle in his way to join America's National Basketball Association (NBA) next season.
"I think I could join NBA next season," the Shanghai Sharks center said. "I'm having positive discussions with the club. They won't balk me if we get more understanding of each other's conditions."
Yao, 20, 7-5 feet, became the target of a couple of NBA agents, including David Falk, Michael Jordan's agent, and Bill Duffy, an agent for Steve Nash and Antonio Davis, after the Sydney Olympics on September, when his height and promising stardom future impressed the world.
But rumors rised last month that Yao would not announce his availability for the June's draft because he has to play for the national team and for Shanghai in the span from April to October. His national service denies his possibility to join NBA's pre-season training camp, and according to NBA rules, players who skip the training camp will not be included in the team roster.
"What I've been informed is different," said Yao, whose team ost 3-1 on Wednesday to the Bayi Rockets in the finals of the Chinese Basketball Association. "Players can play in the season no matter he is in or not in the training camp."
"There is no obvious barriers for me to go to NBA, and I'm ready to play for a NBA team next season."
Wang Zhizhi, Yao's national teammate who was drafted by NBA's team Dallas Mavericks last season, will be the first Asian basketball player to play in NBA next month.
"It's a milestone for the Chinese basketball if Big Zhi go to Dallas next month," Yao said. "What Big Zhi and I have experienced means the quality of Chinese players are acknowledged by the world's best basketball league."
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