Wasted Potential - The Yao Ming Story

[48.7 is Approximately 49 Times Better Than You]

Yao Ming is 7'6. He's the tallest man in the NBA, and four to seven inches taller than most centers. Around 300 pounds, he outweighs most and could impose his will on basically anyone. Yao Ming has an excellent hook shot, and can nail a jumper from anywhere on the court. He's got the perfect body to dominate, and the shot to cause problems for opposing defenses. He can dunk on anyone, is a threat from long range, and is a proven defense presence. But, he's never been dominate like he could have been. Yao Ming will never be remembered as a great center. Yao Ming is more of a side show and a draw than anything else. He could have been elite. He could have gone out every night and dominated, brought championships to Houston, and won a slew of awards, but he doesn't have the aggressiveness. If Yao Ming were an aggressive player, and had a real killer instinct, I have no doubts in my mind that he would have gone down as one of the greatest players of all time. He's more skilled than any center I've ever watched, but he's full of wasted potential.

 

[Thriller Ant]

I totally agree. I think there were two main reasons he didn't live up to his potential.

1. Injuries Sadly, this seems to be the case with most NBA big men that don't live up to their potential, as I'm sure you are aware of 48.7 with Greg Oden. Here are his games played numbers from his career, starting with his rookie year in '02-'03: 82, 82, 80, 57, 48, 55, 77. It seemed to be a good sign that he stayed pretty healthy his first couple years, but he hadn't really come into his own yet. His second season, when he started all 82 games, he averaged 17.5 points and 9 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, two seasons ago when he played in 55 games, he averaged 22 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. He can be very effective, but if he can't play, he doesn't help anyone. Now Ming's injuries might even force him out of basketball.

2. Competitive Fire When I watched Yao in a game, he never had that same intensity that you see in guys like LeBron, Kobe, and Shaq. He had the same expression on his face he has in press conferences. Also, like 48.7 said, he has a body made to dominate in the NBA, but he didn't have the aggression needed. He very rarely used power moves in the post, and it seems that no one has been dunked on more since he arrived in the league.

I personally hope that Yao can overcome this most recent injury setback and come back to the NBA. We all know he can dominate, and I hope he gets another opportunity to do so.

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

Sadly, it's mostly injuries that have kept Yao from reaching his full potential. The same kinds of foot problems that have plagued him have also plagued Bill Walton and Sam Bowie to name a few. Zydrunas Ilgauskas had the same kind of surgery Yao had I believe and it took him a few years to recover but he's been fine ever since. Now I don't think Zydrunas was expected to become like Yao was expected but you can say Z's surgery was a success. When Yao gets back, he may can average what he was averaging for a couple of years but that's about it. I know this hurts him a lot because he means so much for the NBA, especially regarding their Asian following. I hope that Yi can become what Yao was expected to become and I wish Yao the best and hopes that he makes a full recovery.

 

[Baller]

Yao has shown glimpses of greatness over the years but the guy is always injured. Its a real shame because if he couldve stayed healthy is whole career he had the talent to be a Hall of Famer. With him and McGrady for majority of next year (Yao out for all of it) expect the Rockets to have a very high draft pick next year. But hopefully Yao can get healthy and continue to play in the NBA at a high quality level

 

[FromTheSouth]

48.7 made the thread because he is mad at the way Yao torched his Blazers in the playoffs.

1. Yao is a 20-10 guy, which is rare in the NBA. He is the best center in the league. He scores 20 a game on 13 shots.

2. His health problems have all been the result of having to play an entire international schedule as well as an NBA schedule.

3. He has improved his numbers every year.

4. I wouldn't call him wasted potential. I would be on the fence at worst, but the fact is that it takes centers longer to develop than any other position. You can't exist solely on athleticism as a center unless you freakish like Dwight Howard, But while Dwight Howard has reached his ceiling, and will not improve much due to his lack of work ethic, Yao will improve more. You have to learn the position, and anyone who saw Yao this year would see that he now understands the position. A stress fracture in the foot is hardly a career ender, I would bet that he plays within ten games of the all star break.

 

[Mr. TM]

What is wrong with Yao? Everytime I see him play, he is dominant. He can control the key, he can take the big shots, and he is the man I have up front for my dream team 6 times out of 10. When he was drafted, I was in grade 9 I believe, and everyone doubted him. The said he can dunk and that is all. But guess what. Can we get his field goal percent? Yeah, impressive. The man is a total package.

He isn't going to be the most dominant in your face player. But that is smart. He is a 7'6 man. Those knees will not last forever. Keep him fresh, and the injuries will be limited. Until then, he is everything I want from a center.