PrintYao Ming Meets With Media In Canada
What things are you looking forward to when you begin living in the United
States?
Yao: "The pace of life is much faster (in the U.S.) than where I live in
China."
How do you approach meeting the high expectations that are being placed on
you?
Yao: "Everyone needs to understand that I have not played in one single NBA
game yet."
How do you feel about the excitement of Houston Asian community's over your
arrival?
Yao: "If it is like that there, then I will be very excited as well."
Do you think you will have an impact right away?
Yao: "I think it will be impossible for me to get used to everything right
away. Basketball, in America, is like a culture. It is like a foreigner
learning a new language. It is difficult to learn foreign languages and it
will also be difficult for me to learn the culture for basketball here."
What do you know about Houston?
Yao: "They have won two NBA championships and the head coach of that team
(Rudy Tomjanovich) gave me trouble in the Olympics, causing me to foul out
in the first 15 minutes. He better think about that. (laughs)"
What do you fear the most in making the move to the NBA?
Yao: "I haven't made any real important steps yet."
Which Rockets player are you most excited about meeting?
Yao: "Steve Francis."
What does Yao Ming need to work on the most as he prepares for the NBA?
Wang: "Yao Ming is still Yao Ming. Right now, he's not an NBA player, he's
just the number one pick. He has many things to learn about the NBA."
What will be the biggest adjustment for him?
Wang: "Everything. Language, practice, schedule, travel, many games and hard
practices."
Can you describe what type of person he is?
Wang: "Because of Yao Ming's personality, I feel he can grow up faster than
other players might."
What kinds of skills does Yao Ming have to help him live up to the high
expectations?
Wang: "Yao is facing a lot of things he hasn't faced before. He must keep a
good balance mentally."
