The NBA Houston Rockets should have confidence in selecting Chinese
star center Yao Ming with their first pick in Wednesday's NBA Draft
at Madison Garden Square, New York, said Chinese Basketball
Association (CBA) Commissioner Xin Lancheng.
"The Rockets should have confidence in selecting Yao," Xin told
Xinhua on Wednesday. "They should see no obstacle."
A
press conference will be held by the Rockets late Wednesday to
announce their decision on Yao, according to Yao's representative
Eric Zhang.
"The Rockets are going to announce that they will most likely
select Yao with their first pick," Zhang told Xinhua.
It
seemed that the Rockets and the CBA had reached certain agreements
on the 2.26-meter center's play in the NBA but Xin preferred
"common understandings" in his description of the situation.
"The Rockets have had common understandings with us on drafting
Yao," Xin added.
Yao needs a letter of clearance from FIBA, the sport's
international governing body, with the consent of the CBA to play
in the NBA, according to Eric Zhang. But Xin said it would not be
necessary before the draft.
"It (the clearance letter) is not necessary at the moment," Xin
said.
Yao Ming and his representatives on Saturday reached "agreements in
principle" on how they would compensate the Shanghai Sharks if any
NBA team pick him in the draft.
If
the Rockets select Yao Thursday, he will become the first
international player without American basketball program to be
drafted as No.1 pick in the NBA history.
(
June 27, 2002)