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06-11-2002, 09:07 PM
HOUSTON -- The Houston Rockets are one step closer to using the first pick in the NBA Draft on Chinese center Yao Ming.
The Houston Chronicle reported Tuesday in its online edition that the Shanghai Sharks have told the Rockets they will recommend that the China Basketball Association grant its approval for the 7-foot-5 star.
Rockets general counsel Michael Goldberg told the newspaper from Shanghai that Sharks general manager Li Yaomin and owner Bai Li pledged their recommendation following two days of social meetings and negotiations.
Rockets officials in China did not immediately return phone messages left by The Associated Press.
Houston, which won the No. 1 draft selection in the NBA's lottery last month, hopes to select Yao June 26 in New York.
"I believe based on our meetings that they don't have any objections," Goldberg told the paper. "In the very short time we've been here, we've developed very good relationships."
Goldberg, general manager Carroll Dawson, coach Rudy Tomjanovich and other team officials are in China to meet with Chinese representatives who will decide whether the 7-foot-5 center is allowed to play in the United States.
The group was to meet Wednesday in Beijing with representatives of the China Basketball Association, the newspaper reported.
Yao needs a letter of clearance from FIBA, the international basketball governing body. Approval from the China Basketball Association is considered the remaining hurdle for Yao to receive FIBA clearance.
Yao, 21, averaged 32.4 points and 19 rebounds in 34 China Basketball League games last season, shooting better than 72 percent from the field. He averaged 10.5 points per game on 63.9 percent shooting and six rebounds in the 2000 Olympics.
NBA commissioner David Stern told the newspaper roadblocks could develop and keep Yao from playing within the league until later in his career.
"We have people stationed permanently on the ground in China and we have good relationships with the authorities and the CBA and the Shanghai Sharks," Stern said. "But if there's a decision made at the highest levels to not allow a player to come or to restrict him in any way, my reaction was 'OK, that's happened before.'"
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 2002, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
The Houston Chronicle reported Tuesday in its online edition that the Shanghai Sharks have told the Rockets they will recommend that the China Basketball Association grant its approval for the 7-foot-5 star.
Rockets general counsel Michael Goldberg told the newspaper from Shanghai that Sharks general manager Li Yaomin and owner Bai Li pledged their recommendation following two days of social meetings and negotiations.
Rockets officials in China did not immediately return phone messages left by The Associated Press.
Houston, which won the No. 1 draft selection in the NBA's lottery last month, hopes to select Yao June 26 in New York.
"I believe based on our meetings that they don't have any objections," Goldberg told the paper. "In the very short time we've been here, we've developed very good relationships."
Goldberg, general manager Carroll Dawson, coach Rudy Tomjanovich and other team officials are in China to meet with Chinese representatives who will decide whether the 7-foot-5 center is allowed to play in the United States.
The group was to meet Wednesday in Beijing with representatives of the China Basketball Association, the newspaper reported.
Yao needs a letter of clearance from FIBA, the international basketball governing body. Approval from the China Basketball Association is considered the remaining hurdle for Yao to receive FIBA clearance.
Yao, 21, averaged 32.4 points and 19 rebounds in 34 China Basketball League games last season, shooting better than 72 percent from the field. He averaged 10.5 points per game on 63.9 percent shooting and six rebounds in the 2000 Olympics.
NBA commissioner David Stern told the newspaper roadblocks could develop and keep Yao from playing within the league until later in his career.
"We have people stationed permanently on the ground in China and we have good relationships with the authorities and the CBA and the Shanghai Sharks," Stern said. "But if there's a decision made at the highest levels to not allow a player to come or to restrict him in any way, my reaction was 'OK, that's happened before.'"
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 2002, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved