So it took longer than expected. I admit I was the one proclaiming Yao Ming to be the next great thing. This wasn’t the new Shawn Bradley I argued. Superstar was more applicable.
Unfortunately, I found myself repeating this same thing for three straight years, and it became tiresome. It was time to rethink my stance. Maybe Yao wasn’t what I envisioned. Maybe he was destined to be a good, not great, player, despite his size. The improvements never fully materialized.
I gave up. No longer was I arguing on his behalf. Sure, he was no Shawn Bradley, but disappointment was the label I stuck him with. Then, a funny thing happened. Yao Ming, almost overnight, began dominating. Ironically, it was an injury that may have contributed to this turnaround.
Surgery on his left toe gave Yao unaccustomed rest; when he’s not playing for the Rockets, he is obligated to the Chinese national team, playing nearly 12 months a year. Since returning from this much needed break, Yao has been a force: averaging 28 ppg, 12.9 rpg and 2 bpg while shooting better than 53 percent in the second half of the season.
After all the hype has passed and some have called him a flop, Yao is finally living up to expectations with little recognition. Sure, McGrady is out, which leaves more shots (as well as double-teams), but the light has officially gone on for Yao.
LeBron and Wade would still be my top choices to start a franchise, but Yao Ming is at least finally entering the conversation.
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