Every day we’re taking one active NBA star with at least arguable Hall of Fame credentials and breaking down his chances of getting into the Springfield, Mass., hoops mecca. We’re looking at not just past accomplishments, but also how a player’s career realistically projects for the future. For a full explanation of the process, click here. Today’s candidate: Yao Ming.
YAO MING (6th year, Rockets)
18.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.9 blocks per game
Why: Virtually a lock to be an All-Star starter every year for the rest of his career, Yao already has five ASG nods in his five years as a pro. Last season he convincingly eclipsed Shaq in the ranks of the League’s best centers (25 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2 bpg), and would have taken Amare Stoudemire’s spot on the All-NBA first team had injuries not limited Yao to just 48 games. His assist numbers aren’t high (1.4 apg), but Yao is still considered one of the best passing big men to come along since Bill Walton. On the international level Yao is a mega-star, the unquestioned franchise player for the Chinese national team and one of the sport’s most visible ambassadors.
Why not: The biggest player in the NBA still gets pushed around a lot — while he showed a little mean streak last year, he’s still seen as soft. And because he is so big, a lot of people expect more than Yao has been able to deliver. Even if he is the top name/face on the marquee, observant viewers know the Rockets are still Tracy McGrady’s team, and some would even argue that Houston is often better when Yao isn’t on the floor. Even with a superstar teammate, Yao hasn’t seen the second round of the playoffs, and his Chinese national squad hasn’t enjoyed much international success, either.
Our call: IN
The H.O.F. Watch archive
11/6 - Gilbert Arenas
11/5 - Robert Horry
11/2 - Kobe Bryant
11/1 - Grant Hill
10/31 - Dirk Nowitzki
10/30 - Tony Parker
10/29 - Elton Brand
10/26 - Carmelo Anthony
10/25 - Vince Carter
10/24 - Penny Hardaway
10/23 - Alonzo Mourning
10/22 - Allen Iverson
10/19 - Dwyane Wade
10/18 - Chauncey Billups
10/17 - Stephon Marbury
10/16 - Jason Kidd
10/15 - Shawn Marion
10/12 - Ray Allen
10/11 - Chris Bosh
10/10 - Chris Webber
10/9 - Paul Pierce
10/5 - Jermaine O’Neal
10/4 - Gary Payton
10/3 - Tracy McGrady
Related posts:
November 7th, 2007 at 9:26 am
seth says:
If nothing else, he has to be in for introducing the world to the Shanghai Shake.
November 7th, 2007 at 9:44 am
Eric says:
Let’s see a Sam Cassell HOF Watch!
November 7th, 2007 at 9:47 am
Maxwell says:
So Yao in, Dirk/Vince out huh?
This list is kinda strange… not to mention, I’d bet money AGAINST more than a few picks.
November 7th, 2007 at 9:50 am
Coldchain says:
I don’t think Dime’s saying Yao SHOULD be in and Dirk out, I think they’re predicting what the Hall voters will say. Dirk’s better than Yao, will put up better numbers, but since he has a rep for being soft and a choker. Yao’s got the whole “international ambassador” going for him, and he’ll have like 10 All-Star games on his resume.
November 7th, 2007 at 10:11 am
Bron42 says:
Coldchain. Hate to break it to you but Yao is just as soft, if not softer than dirk as the dunk by manu showed you last night. No way in hell a 7′5 guy should get dunked on or lit up on defense like yao does. People say he is the next dominant big man, when he isn’t even dominant. Hes the next scoring big man, but his defense sucks, hes not an intimidator by the rim (hes pretty much a poster waiting to happen) and can’t get up and down the court. Hes too slow to guard 90% of the league (boozer averaged like 40 on him in the playoffs and okur was saying hes too predicatable) but just like robert horry said, if yao sucks, they’ll just blame tmac (the same way the did francis) and no one will point out that yao isn’t aggressive enough or dominant. He could average 5 points and the chinese population will still vote him and yi into the allstar game for the next centuary meanwhile I’d trade him for Dwight Howard and a bag of chips in a heart beat. But he’ll get in just on the international factor alone. So the asian rik smits will be IN, sadly.
November 7th, 2007 at 10:20 am
Coldchain says:
I know Yao is soft, but as far as reputations go, Dirk is supposedly to be softer. Whenever Yao shows a little bit of a mean streak, everyone falls all over themselves like “Oh Yao’s getting tough!” like they’re rooting for him. When Dirk pulls his soft/choker act, everyone’s like “See I told you he’s soft.”
November 7th, 2007 at 10:26 am
DOC says:
Yao been stepping his heart up this year. And so what you get dunked on if you played ball you know it can happen. I seen Mutumbo and Zo and Ewing and Keem get dunked on plenty of times that just mean you’re a center in the league playing against the best and they gonna get ya ass sometimes. If he so soft why was he going at Tim so hard last night.
November 7th, 2007 at 10:43 am
Lucky Lester says:
Both are a lock to get in if they continue their play, and while I always appreciate Dime’s take, I don’t know how they could say otherwise about either. Dirk - he’s quite possibly the best foreign player in the League, and Yao is going to be dirty as a big huge with a jumper starting now, and ending sometime in his mid 30’s, so like I said, he’ll be in. And feel free to let me know in this thread, if anyone wants to put a friendly wager down against either one of these guys. LOCKS, absolutely.
November 7th, 2007 at 11:32 am
Bron42 says:
I’ll put money down..Dirk bein the best forgein player in the league doesnt really mean hes a lock to get in. Just means hes the best forgein player. Ya we all kno yao has a jumper, but hes not a defensive stopper and at 7′5 thats pathetic. He still gets buillied and still has no endurance. The dream when he was a rocket could stop you on both ends, yao can shoot and gets flustered easy so he falls into the same dilema as dirk. Only difference is, you guys base alot of dirks “hes a lock” talk on his interanational germany success meanwhile like dime said, team china has sucked.
Coldchain, their both the same way. Just like last year, dirk has a 1 handed dunk on a fast break and everyone was like “did you see that MVP style dunk” a 7′0 barely dunking 1 handed on a break is mvp style? they both get overhyped.
How are you gonna say yao has been steppin up his hart this year? lol its been 4 games and tmac carried them 3 of the 4? Plus ya, alot of centers get dunked on, but not by 6′4 guys with average hops when their 7′5. Manu is not carter, or jordan, or kobe or anywhere close to that level athlete. If your 7′5 and get dunked on by a guy with maybe a 30 inch vert..thats sad. Specially when he comes right down the middle on you. Most of that falls under the fact that yao is so slow, by the time manu when from the 3 point line to the hoop, yao only took one step and was stuck under the rim. And wow, he went at time duncan (who had a bad game) one time…your right, hes a beast. So then lamarcus aldridge is a beast now too cuz he did the same thing like 4 days ago.
November 7th, 2007 at 11:39 am
fiyaman says:
what has Yao done to even be considered HOF material. at this pace maybe but there’s no guarantee for him.. He needs to dominate for at least 1 full season b4 even being considered. Maybe HOF just for being Chinese and banging with the brothers.
November 7th, 2007 at 11:49 am
Mikey D says:
I agree he is a lock to be in but I think Sabonis (by FAR) and shaq were much better passing centers.
November 7th, 2007 at 11:59 am
Gregg says:
I’m still caught up on the why Yao didn’t receive ROY that year and STAT did.
Flash back to Carmelo vs. LeBron. Carmelo had the stats, clutch shots, and the playoff team with just as much team talent as LeBron had AND he played out in the west! But LeBron won because supposedly it was all about “potential”.
That’s garbage.
Though that year STAT won, he had the better stats and all that stuff but Yao with his foreign diplomacy and “potential” to be the best “center” (lets face it most of the league has PF’s disguised as 5’s) for his era did not win?
It just doesn’t make any sense in my book. It’s either Carmelo should have won ROY or Yao should have one ROY. Not either/or.
November 7th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Gee says:
Dang it’s so hard for me to do Rocket players lol.
I am going to try my best to be fair.
Ok as of now No, Nada, un uh, hell to the naw and nope!
If I am correct though this is talking about their projected path and how we “think” they will do as they go on in their career.
With that said I will have to say as far as Yao’s future goes yes he will get in.
Provided he doesn’t get injured and keeps putting up good numbers he should be fine as far as getting in. He is very marketable, he has done wonders for his nationality in helping the L crossover even more in that regard, he puts up numbers offensive wise, doesn’t get into trouble off the court, and as times goes I feel the deeper rounds of playoffs and first team selections and other awards will come. Not to mention I don’t feel there is another center out there who wants to do better and tries so hard to be better (that is personal though).
Anyway all that said I feel he will make it. In thinking of what is against him…sure he is a bit soft, but he is not as soft as when he first came in. With soft meaning so much (not really playing great D, doesn’t want it enough in the clutch and has to have less turnovers and not get silly fouls (I guess the last two or smart not soft)) that will count against him.
I don’t think that will keep him out though.
So Yao “will be” in.
Now on side note:
Newsflash Yao is not Shaq and never will be. People are expecting something from Yao that is never going to come. Sure he is big and we would all love to see him crashing the boards, slapping the glass, blocking shots and growling and doing all sorts of things that many other centers or big men do.
He is Yao, he is from a totally different cloth and culture and he, like it or not, is still learning.
As far as getting dunked on, well …he will always get dunked on and get his shot blocked from smaller players, that is just a plus for them. It’s not all remarkable though. Almost all big men have been dunked on by smaller players, so big whoop there.
By the way has Shaq ever been dunked on? I have never seen that so if anyone has a link or anything please hook that up.
If you want another Shaq pray for Andrew Bynum to get big with his game and do all the things you love to see from other centers otherwise… Yao is Yao and Yao is in!
November 7th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Myrie in NY says:
Umm….toughy. Theres no law that says you have to be tough to get into the HOF. Yao is soft and is always going to be soft. But is that enough to keep him out if he’s going to give you 25 and 9 every season?
He’s going to lead the all star voting every yr until he retires. And eventually, he’ll win a playoff series. Not too sure about him winning chips though.
At this point, I gotta say he’s out. Not because he’s soft or doesn’t have great D, but because he hasn’t really done anything great, spectacular that we havent already seen. I mean…Shawn Bradley hit a jump shot once. Didn’t he?
November 7th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Myrie in NY says:
Gregg–
Side note: Shouts out to Gregg. Melo not winning ROY was just madness. Who votes for these awards anyway? I am a LeBron fan (Melo too for that matter), but no way did Bron deserve ROY over Melo. Carmelo averaged more points, his team won more games and he went to the playoffs. Not to mention, as a rook, Melo hit buzzer beaters to win games.
I ain’t hating on LeBron, but I gots to agree with Gregg on his post(#12) that Melo should have won ROY over LBJames.
November 7th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Damon says:
yao in the hof?
what has he done? allstar berths, the first few were undeserved, no real great full season,
if he is in, then dirk…. you all
November 7th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Lou Spliff says:
Personally I’m a big fan of Yao Ming but as it stands today he lacks the credentials to get into the HOF. However, that is not to say he doesn’t have a good chance of being elected in the future. If he continues to play at his current level, gets some more postseason experience, and capitalizes on the downfall of Shaq’s dominance then he could potentially be a HOF. One thing he has done that we must take into account is that he has introduced Asia, and perhaps the world, to the NBA and helped to make the NBA a world power. If we are using player’s college resumes for the basketball HOF we must also use their international play as well. Yao is out but not for long.
November 7th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Bron42 says:
shaq admited in his own words he was dunked on by 3 people…jordan, derrick coleman and some guy on the nuggets who “caught me sleeping”. All were while he was in orlando.
Melo easily deserved it more based on the simple fact he was in the playoffs while lebron wasnt even close. Wade was in the playoffs too and went to the second round.
Gee, no one is saying yao should be shaq. But at the same time, to be the “best center” or hall of fame worthy, he has to dominate. Kareem wasn’t shaq either but you weren’t just gonna abuse him on defense. He wasn’t gonna let you kill him. Yao’s defense is right up there with shawn bradly. Tall guy who is just kinda there. Sure he has offense but to be the best center in the league you gotta effect the other side of the court. As of right now, guys look more to dunk on yao than to avoid him. Why did guys give up on dunkin on shaq? cuz he puts them on their ass. Yao just gets dunked on, pushed out the way etc..
His international team sucks, he can only score, and hasnt dont anything yet. The ONLY thing that would get him in the HOF is he’ll be a allstar every year (even if he doesnt deserve it) as a fan vote since china votes 20 billion. for now hes OUT
November 7th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Bron42 says:
p.s: yao got pinned by a 5′8 guy (robinson), destroyed in the post by a 6′8 guy(boozer), and dunked on by a 6′4 guy(manu). name another hall of fame center who is over 7′0 that u can think had that happen within a year.Also Dwight howard looks more like a young shaq than bynum does. Shaq in orlando was skinny, explosive and powerful. Bynum is slow and soggy.
November 7th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
Gregg says:
Bynum looks like a more offensive oriented Mutumbo. Just look at him try to guard someone. He does that cocked arm thing (looks like he’s arm wrestling the air) when he defend the low post.
November 7th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Gregg says:
BTW does anyone realize that in the class of 2003 with
Darko, LeBron, James, J.Howard, Hinrich, Wade, Bosh etc,
1. Darko and Wade have rings
2. LeBron and J. Howard have made it to the finals
So does that mean that we’re going to see the bulls and raptors in the ECF with one either Hinrich or Bosh going to the finals?
November 7th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
smity says:
Interesting… I havent noticed many “Its Way too early to tell! How outrageous of you all at Dime to even consider him” posts. Bron often comes across as a hater. If you challenge in the league you have a good chance of getting dunked on. Give yao credit for challenging consistently (actually, don’t give him credit for it cause he’s doing what he’s supposed to do (and if you ask him he’d probably say the same), but also don’t disregard the fact that he does challenge.) You can’t be soft if you going up to block somebody’s shot. You can’t be soft if somebody passes you the ball and you go to work on the block. Softness is shying away from contact and whatnot. Whoever thought that, after watching Yao in his first year, that he would put up the types of numbers that he has. His hard work and dedication to the game have paid off and will continue to pay off because like Gee said earlier he is still learning. I would say that to solidify his chances of getting in the hof he would have to have at least one season or playoff award added to his resume or at least a championship…or even a three point shoot out, skills test or dunk contest award!…
I’ve been surprised by Dime’s calls on some of the most recent candidates, most especially, Hill, Horry, Gilbert and Yao and after hearing their reasonings for why and why not i havent really seen fit to disagree. That hadn’t been the case with many of the other candidates…most especially- Tony Parker.
November 7th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
jo says:
He’s not the biggest player in the NBA, he’s tallest. Shaq’s the biggest.
November 7th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
Gee says:
Bron42 I did say dude was still learning. I also did say this is about what is possibly projected. Also most every player has a weakness (Shaq’s free throws). I think you are going a little strong when you use the word abuse. If we are going to go with that word then, is it fair to say that Yao abuses them back when they are on D??? Is it fair to say Timmy got abused last night? Naw, I wouldn’t take none of those that far. I said already dudes D is weak. Yet by his height alone he is going to alter other teams and he does get blocks and his effort is there (just not his smarts and agression, which I also said before). Just as his “O” his D will get better. I ain’t gone sit and say Yao is gone put someone on their arse (and yea you right he should) but as time goes I feel he will improve…just like Shaqs freethrows lol. But yea if we going off now just like I said again already he is not in. Later on though I think he will make it. Don’t hate cause China is big too lol.
Good looking on the Shaq getting dunked on info. I didn’t know that and you are right about Dwight being more like Shaq, he didn’t cross my mind at the time.
LOL ok perhaps I can’t give you 7 footers that all that has happened to in that time. Don’t act like all 7 footers haven’t been done up by a smaller man though. That is just the nature of the game.
Tell you what give me your favorite center and I will let you know his weakness and how he has been done up by shorties. It happens.
Just like Yao getting in will happen. IN
November 7th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
Fabian says:
You vote Dirk for OUT and Yao IN??
come on now, DIME Crew..
November 7th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
marcus says:
He gets dunked on because he plays D. Thats why.. get this.. the rockets have been one of the best teams when it comes to interior D since Yao was drafted. Does he get beat sometimes? Yes. If getting dunked on disqualified you from being in the HOF then Hakeem, Zo, MT Mutombo, Kareem, Mose Malone, etc shouldnt be let in or should have their memberships revoked.
Its a myth that hes soft to. The guy did play a few games on a broken foot a few years ago before taking time off to heal, a broken foot.
Right now.. hes OUT. I see no reason why at the end of his playing days he will have built up a good enough resume to get a nod. However, the same can be said of all the younger stars in the NBA today, including Lebron.
November 7th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Bron42 says:
smity, challenging doesnt mean much if you never end up doin anything. THats why i said hes not a intimidator. People aren’t scared to challenge him right back. With most centers your like “ok, if i drive it might get punched”, thats not the case with yao cuz hes too slow and usually out of position. A pg can challenge someone, doesnt mean their a good defensive player. Damon jones challenged lebron on a fast break, doesnt mean anything if you don’t stop a guy.
Gee, I completely agree with you for the most part. Every player, let alone center has their flaw. I just personally think somoen 7′5 should change the game more on defense. Take the playoffs last year, if yao could stop boozer, hell even slow him down. rockets win that series. And he didn’t do anything on offense either. Thats my issue wiht alot of hyped guys. Nash, sure he can pass, but cant stop anyone on the other end so they cancel eachother out. Yao can score, but other centers just body him around on the other end.
If you read my first post, I said he’ll probably get IN. I don’t think he should for certain reason, but I’m sure he will just on international standing. And its not me bein a hater, I played with guys like bynum, jr smith, lebron when they were in high school. So I have a up close bias with most of them lol plus its just a shame to see 7′0 nba guys get handled by smaller guys, yao or anyone else.
November 7th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
ash says:
wow, yao in and dirk out?
dirk has had more success in the league (3 years straight on 1st team all nba, 6 years straight on all nba team), 6 all star appearances ina row, more playoff success than yao, better numbers than yao, best foregin player in the league, best shooting big man ever, but yet he is out and soft but yao is in?
tell me again dime, when yao played with steve and cuttino, did he make it tot he playoffs?
how many times has yao been to the 2nd ro und? conf finals? finals?
you guys have no credibility left.
November 7th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
smity says:
“A pg can challenge someone, doesnt mean their a good defensive player.” - Correct, it doesnt mean that they’re a good defensive player. It does mean that they’re not soft though.
November 7th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
Gee says:
Aight Bron42 I feel what you saying and trust me as a Rockets fan I am hoping that he does end up changing the game more lol. I won’t say it was about him stopping Booz that last series. Honestly I put that on coaching cause JVG had all the parts I felt he just didn’t use them right. I know I know, but yea Yao could have did more. He will.
November 7th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Sacto J says:
When Yao gets his rings, there will be no question. This is a guy you build a team around, a guy you can count on in the post, and there’s no worries about bailing him out of jail before practice the next day. While he doesn’t deserve to be in yet, there’s no question it takes a skilled big, a skilled point, and a handful of role players to win a chip. He is the 2nd best big in the game right now, and he just beat the 1st (TD.) Yao will get in before Nowitzki, mainly because to this point, Yao has never cried on camera…..
November 7th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Kobeef says:
Yao needs to win in the playoffs to be in the Hall. The Playoffs are where you prove that you can make your team win and not just put up stats..which really don’t mean that much sometimes.
Yao is the most overrated player in the NBA. Ask McGrady if he regrets his decision to leave Orlando and Dwight now. Last year he said he would retire after this contract ends….that’s gotta tell you something about his expectations playing with Yao.
November 7th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Gee says:
there’s no worries about bailing him out of jail before practice the next day.
Sacto that was funny.
Kobeef sounds kinda personal homey. McGrady has on numerous times vouched for Yao and has said he likes playing with Yao. Steve Francis used to say the same thing (lol Steve can’t get no burn now though). McGrady talking about going to retire had more to do with his personal issues, his body, and JVG’s coaching style.
Don’t get me wrong Tracy and Dwight together would be nice. Still don’t get it twisted Tracy will talk about just about the whole rest of the team before he goes to Yao.
Overrated hmmm ok maybe and I’ll even say yes to some degree but the “most” naw pimp. Yao can still give you some game. Then again I guess T.D. giving him his props last night probably wouldn’t even sway you.
November 7th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Bron42 says:
Considering Francis took the heat for yao, you cant really complain about him. Because he was in the same situation as tmac right now. He had to put up big numbers for them to win. Yao is, and was then very up and down. Rockets go to the playoffs, and lost to the lakers. Same thing now, tmac has to put up big numbers and get 9-10 assists just for them to win. Yao will be up and down. They’ll get to the first round and probably get knocked out. I’m a rockets fan too, and like i said, I’d give dwight and tmac on the rockets team now a better shot than tmac and yao on the rockets team now.
As for why is dirk out? cuz the guy chokes. Yao hasn’t been in the position yet where its all on him (people let him skate without any blame) plus dirk doesn’t do it all himself. Look at this season already, dirk is puttin up like 15 ppg while terry had 31, josh howard had 21. If dirk has a bad game his guys can step up. How often are you gonna see rafer alston or battier give someone 31 points it tmac or yao go cold. Plain and simple, yes dirk has good numbers but he falls apart in big games. Neither one plays defense though and are both still super soft (and yes smitty i’m taking into consideration that yao challenges guys..but hes 7′5 and gets dunk on so hes soft. Shawn Bradley challenged people too and he was soft)
November 7th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
AY says:
I don’t think we can compare yao and dirk. Yao has only played 5 years, you can’t project what he’s going to do. As for Dirk, check out basketball-reference.com, they have a way of measuring the hall of fame likelihood of every player, and their rank amongst all possible players, based on their achievements and stats. For example, Bill Russell is 100% in the hall of fame and is ranked #1, Wilt #2, MJ #3. It’s a pretty interesting metric and they have dirk at 61% at the moment, which is pretty much a sho-in. I personally think they’re not weighing the championships heavy enough, but it’s quite interesting:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/nowitdi01.html
Go a little ways down the page. I also suggest looking up Bill Walton, Mark Aguire and Bernard King. And anyone who has been on this dime list.
November 7th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
AY says:
And by a little ways down the page, I mean all the way to the bottom.
November 7th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
Patrick Corcoran says:
Here are all the basketball reference scores for everyone on this list:
11/2 - Kobe Bryant .998
10/22 - Allen Iverson .997
10/25 - Vince Carter .925
10/4 - Gary Payton .880
10/16 - Jason Kidd .870
10/3 - Tracy McGrady .836
10/9 - Paul Pierce .773
11/1 - Grant Hill .761
10/10 - Chris Webber .732
10/12 - Ray Allen .699
10/31 - Dirk Nowitzki .611
11/6 - Gilbert Arenas .576
10/23 - Alonzo Mourning .381
10/30 - Tony Parker .370
10/17 - Stephon Marbury .329
10/15 - Shawn Marion .257
10/29 - Elton Brand .230
11/5 - Robert Horry .037
10/24 - Penny Hardaway .037
10/18 - Chauncey Billups .033
10/5 - Jermaine O’Neal .022
11/7 - Yao Ming n/a
10/26 - Carmelo Anthony n/a
10/19 - Dwyane Wade n/a
10/11 - Chris Bosh n/a
November 7th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Bron42 says:
Thats cool, I never really follow all the stuff like that cuz its usually some guy sitting in his basement who comes up with some new formula (like the player effeciency rating), I go more on just play cuz sometimes those things come out weird like “based on his effecincy when on the court, if trevor ariza played 40 minutes he’d be a allstar”
November 7th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
Bron42 says:
We went over duncan and parker so heres a question…does bruce bowen get in?
November 7th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
K-Dizzle says:
If the league stops screwin BB outta his Defensive Player of the Year awards and goin with big names, he’s gettin in…based on the Robert Horry theory on contributin to 3 championships and his defensive first team spots.
Yao’s gonna get in because unlike Hakeen, Ewing, Robinson, Kareem, Parish, Wilt, Russell, Thurmond, Bellamy, Unseld, Reed and others that I can’t recall right now, they made their name against other hall of famers. No matter how soft we KNOW Yao is, he’s still a tough matchup. Booz crushed him, but it’s Boozer and he gets everybody but like 3-4 guys. Yao’ll get 20-10 every year just based on size. If he had KG’s heart, he’d be dis-gusting. He doesn’t even look like he cares half the time. He’ll get in based on numbers even if he never gets out of the first round if he maintains his numbers over 12-15 years. He should be around 23p-10r-3a-2b.
Bron - yeah, he gets dunked on and yeah, he’s soft as tissue, but everybody gets caught. Witness Kobe on D-Howard last year and VC on Zo, and ok, I went to the most athletic dunkers, but you have to remember Robert Pack catchin dudes; Kevin Johnson on Hakeem, Ewing, Robinson…Everybody gets caught. It’s like Zo says, no one will say a word about the 5 shots you block and the 20 shots you change, they’ll only talk about the one you missed. Yao will improve and he’ll get better. This might be his 2nd healthy year. His projections look good
November 8th, 2007 at 12:26 am
duaneo says:
Sacto J said
“He is the 2nd best big in the game right now, and he just beat the 1st (TD.)”
When he beats him in the playoffs is when it’ll matter. Not in the 3rd or 4th game of the year.
Also I’d take TD, KG, Dwight Howard, and Boozer on my team before Yao for big men.
November 8th, 2007 at 1:09 am
Bron42 says:
K Dizzle, for the most part I agree. Few facts Dwight howard was 1 year in the league, and zo is old and came across from help D. Outside of guys like kobe, VC, josh smith etc..crazy dunkers, most guys arent gonna go at dwight and zo and come away clean. CAn’t say the same for yao cuz while he challenges shots, he doesn’t really scare anyone. Right now yao is that tall dude you see on the court during warmups and your like “oh wow, he must be a beast” then you play with him and hes eh…Yao will put up numbers for a while but i don’t see him carrying them for long stretches like tmac would. I mean come on, they won like 9 games with mutumbo filling it. But like i said in the first post, he probably will get in.
Sacto, I’d take them all over him too accept maybe boozer (injury proned and undersized)
November 8th, 2007 at 1:56 am
Phileus says:
It’s about whether he will get in, not if he “should.”
I bet most of you don’t remember Drazen Petrovic - Croatian superstar, played a few decent years in the NBA before he died in a car accident. He was an All-Star maybe once? He was inducted into the Hall of Fame, definitely not because of his NBA career, but because of bringing European basketball to the US.
Even if Yao will never be a superstar he’ll get into the HOF for the same thing. China is the next big market, and just by being the first truly good player from China in the NBA, he’s doing a lot for basketball - whether you like him a lot, whether you even think he’s good or not.
He’s in, no question.
November 8th, 2007 at 2:00 am
Bron42 says:
Drazen made his career when he lit up MJ and Magic in the olympics not just cuz he brought euro players. He was considered the Euro MJ and used to go at people.The only reason he didn’t get big in the USA is cuz he sat the bench with the blazers, and then started rippin people when he got to the nets but then had the accident. Yao’s international resume is kinda lame outside of name sake. So his chinese population backing him might get him undeserved allstar games but its not a lock with him in HOF.He never really abused any good teams when he was playin for china. He probably will get in, but at this point shouldnt.
p.s: stats like “best 7′0 shooter” or “first chinese #1 pic” shouldnt get you in the HOF. If thats the case baragnani is auto in for bein the first italian and Thabo for bein the first swedish baller in the nba etc..Those titles mean jack.
November 8th, 2007 at 2:08 am
Phileus says:
Honestly I didn’t think Petro needed to be inducted in the HOF and I don’t think Yao should be either. I wasn’t surprised when Petro was though and I wouldn’t be surprised if Yao were either.
November 8th, 2007 at 7:14 am
bigdre says:
yao and dirk are IN for me mostly because of what they’ve done for international basketball. they put up good #s and dirk already has a finals appearance under his belt. i’m predicting yao and t-mac will finally make a deep run this year.
November 8th, 2007 at 8:28 am
dre in o town says:
No. Sorry but he is 7′7″, 300lbs. and taking jump shots at the top of the key. He can make it into the HOF for tall people but not Basketball. Powderpuff.
November 8th, 2007 at 9:34 am
Brian says:
Sorry but I’d take Dirk over Yao any day.
And Dirk is the best foreign player ever.
November 8th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
duaneo says:
I think making the all-star team, as a bench player, is what really matters.
Yao makes it because millions of Chinese people vote for him because he’s the only Chinese player in the NBA. Now that Yi is here, he’ll be making all-star teams too. So does that really mean anything? Hell no.
However if the coaches vote you onto the all-star team, then that is saying you have some skills / heart / whatever.
Number of all-star appearances, when discussing HOF voting, shouldn’t be weighed much.
November 8th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
K-Wing says:
people forgot how tall is he and how difficult it is for guy with his size to do the thing he does evry night. he is in HOF for sure. But Dirk should be in too!
November 8th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Ian says:
bron
have u seen manu play before??? because he can dunk on anybody (he has a good one over two lakers dont rememeber is shaq was one of them)
and please dont compare him to bradley
yao is in
will have the numbers
will probably have long playoffs runs
he was an mvp candidate before the injury
and bron comon have u seen guys his size
manute , bradley , muresan they all suck
kwing is right
who said yao beat td??? does game 4 of the season matters?
November 8th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
TheFallen says:
Yao’s not in as of yet, but by the end of his career he still has a good shot, I just expect him to put up dominating numbers eventually… still waiting.
Dirk’s in right now though… has an MVP ever not gotten in? ‘Reputation’ or not. Not to mention being a revolutionary type player to how the entire sport is played.
November 9th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
istandan says:
When Yao’s career is shortened by injuries and Yi proves to be the better Chinese guy, Yao for hof will become a forgotten topic, much as I like the guy and even his game