ACL Injuries and Return to High-Level Basketball - Athletico
ACL Injuries and Return to High-Level Basketball
am by Athletico |
Editor’s Note: Today’s post is written by Jeff Stein, PT, DPT, MS, ATC, who is the team physical therapist for the Chicago White Sox and was the Head Team Athletic Trainer/Physical Therapist for the Purdue Men’s Basketball Team from . Stein helped rehabilitate All-American basketball player Robbie Hummel of Purdue and NBA player Carl Landry after ACL injuries, among many other athletes.
Derrick Rose had done it thousands of times before, a simple jump stop for a shot or pass, but this one was different. With one wrong movement, his season was over. On that fateful night, Rose tore the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in his knee, and immediately the questions arose. How long will he be out? Would he ever be the same? Is his career over? The good news is, despite the abrupt ending to the season, with the surgical repair and the rehabilitation Rose undergoes with the Bulls’ athletic trainers and physical therapists, the odds are good that he’ll regain his form and be the MVP-caliber player he was before.
Rose’s recovery began the day he was diagnosed with his injury. Prior to surgery, the sports medicine staff worked to decrease the swelling around his knee and regain as much motion and strength as possible prior to surgery. Prehab (rehab before the surgery) is an essential component to having a successful outcome from an injury like an ACL tear. The better an athlete is going into surgery, the better he or she is coming out.
Following surgery, head team physician and orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Brian Cole, stated that the normal time frame for an athlete of Rose’s caliber to recover from ACL surgery is about 8 to 12 months. Dr. Cole also revealed that the rehab would begin with a knee focus and proceed through whole body conditioning, performance training, and risk prevention strategies.
So what does a general ACL rehab consist of?
The early months of rehab from ACL reconstruction are very similar to the prehab undergone prior to surgery. The rehab involves stretches, exercises, and treatments to decrease post-operative swelling and stiffness to allow the knee to move through its full and normal range of motion. As the motion progresses, strengthening exercises are implemented to enhance the strength and responsiveness of the muscles around the knee. Normal gait is usually attained within the first month, and full motion takes a couple of months, but this can vary widely.
About 3-4 months post-surgery, as motion and strength improve, an athlete will be able to work back into some basketball-specific activities on a limited basis. Activities like cardiovascular conditioning, stationary ball handling, and free-throw shooting will get the athlete back on the court and motivate him or her to keep pushing towards a successful full return.
The Fun Part
Once an athlete regains strength, measured by comparing the injured leg to the uninjured leg, the fun part of rehab begins, which incorporates functional movements that will help the athlete prepare for return to a dynamic sport like basketball. Plyometric activities like running, jumping, and cutting will be gradually introduced by the athletic training staff back into the athlete’s repertoire. Athletes usually progress into these activities around 4-5 months post-op.
This is both an exciting and nervous time for the athlete. Most athletes are excited to return to more sport-specific activities but are understandably nervous about the possibility of re-injury. A skilled athletic trainer will carefully guide the athlete through this time by gradually increasing the difficultly and intensity of the drills. By doing a gradual progression, the athlete regains both strength and confidence.
As the athlete regains the speed and explosiveness he or she is known for, they will gradually be re-introduced into team drills and play.
Most athletes are able to work back into all activities between 5 to 8 months after surgery. Even though the athlete returns to team practices and play, the rehab is still not complete. As Dr. Cole stated, it usually takes 8 to 12 months to return to a high level of competition and probably more to get back to the level to which an athlete is accustomed.
ACL injuries are life-altering events, but with the advances in surgical and rehabilitative techniques available to all athletes from Derrick Rose to the weekend warrior, they do not have to be career ending. Recent examples of athletes that have returned to form include Chipper Jones of the Atlanta Braves, Wes Welker of the New England Patriots, and All-American basketball player Robbie Hummel of Purdue.
The rehabilitation and techniques that Derrick Rose will receive are the same that are available to all athletes through the skilled athletic trainers and physical therapists at .
CategoriesCategories
Select Category
Achilles Tendon&&(1)
ACL injury&&(7)
Arthritis&&(14)
Athletic Training&&(83)
Back Pain&&(1)
balance training&&(5)
baseball&&(11)
Careers&&(19)
Cheerleading&&(1)
Coccygodynia&&(1)
Collaborative Treatment&&(1)
Concussion&&(7)
Endurance&&(66)
&&&Cycling&&(2)
&&&Marathon&&(18)
&&&Running&&(5)
Ergonomics&&(11)
Exercise&&(3)
Fantasy Football Injury Report&&(16)
Fitness&&(166)
Foot Pain&&(3)
General&&(312)
Hip Pain&&(2)
Injury Prevention&&(190)
Joint Therapy&&(2)
Knee Pain&&(1)
Lifestyle&&(9)
Massage Therapy&&(33)
Men’s Health&&(15)
Neck Pain&&(1)
News&&(12)
Nutrition&&(22)
&&&Eating Health&&(6)
&&&Eating Healthy&&(2)
Obesity&&(1)
Occupational/Hand Therapy&&(25)
Overuse injury&&(20)
patellar tendon&&(1)
Performing Arts&&(10)
&&&Gymnastics&&(6)
Physical Rehabilitation&&(2)
Physical Therapy&&(237)
&&&Pediatric Physical Therapy&&(5)
&&&Vestibular Physical Therapy&&(6)
Physical Therapy Careers&&(14)
Pregnancy Physical Therapy&&(3)
Shoulder Pain&&(2)
Specialty Techniques&&(2)
Spine Therapy&&(1)
Sports&&(108)
&&&Basketball&&(12)
&&&Fishing&&(3)
&&&Football&&(4)
&&&Golf&&(9)
&&&Hockey&&(2)
&&&Soccer&&(13)
&&&softball&&(5)
&&&Swimming&&(5)
&&&Volleyball&&(3)
Sports Injuries&&(14)
Strength Training&&(5)
Stretching&&(170)
Throwing&&(4)
Weekly Stretch&&(115)
Women’s Health&&(44)
&&&Pregnancy&&(13)
Work Injuries&&(5)
Workers’ Compensation&&(4)
Wrist Pain&&(1)
Select Month
January 2017 &(16)
December 2016 &(18)
November 2016 &(18)
October 2016 &(21)
September 2016 &(21)
August 2016 &(14)
July 2016 &(11)
June 2016 &(13)
May 2016 &(11)
April 2016 &(10)
March 2016 &(10)
February 2016 &(12)
January 2016 &(8)
December 2015 &(6)
November 2015 &(7)
October 2015 &(12)
September 2015 &(7)
August 2015 &(7)
July 2015 &(11)
June 2015 &(10)
May 2015 &(8)
April 2015 &(9)
March 2015 &(12)
February 2015 &(8)
January 2015 &(9)
December 2014 &(10)
November 2014 &(6)
October 2014 &(6)
September 2014 &(6)
August 2014 &(3)
July 2014 &(5)
June 2014 &(7)
May 2014 &(9)
April 2014 &(10)
March 2014 &(8)
February 2014 &(6)
January 2014 &(6)
December 2013 &(3)
November 2013 &(4)
October 2013 &(5)
September 2013 &(4)
August 2013 &(6)
July 2013 &(6)
June 2013 &(6)
May 2013 &(5)
April 2013 &(4)
March 2013 &(4)
February 2013 &(4)
January 2013 &(5)
December 2012 &(2)
November 2012 &(5)
October 2012 &(4)
September 2012 &(3)
August 2012 &(4)
July 2012 &(7)
June 2012 &(6)
May 2012 &(5)
April 2012 &(6)
March 2012 &(4)
February 2012 &(4)
January 2012 &(5)
December 2011 &(4)
November 2011 &(7)
October 2011 &(4)
September 2011 &(5)
August 2011 &(3)
Athletico on Twitter
& Copyright 2017 Athletico.
Athletico Corporate office: 625 Enterprise Drive, Oak Brook, IL 60523 | tel: 630.575.6200 | 1.877.ATHLETICO | email:I like Donald Trump. When The Benefactor was announced, he was one of the first people to call. Told me he thought it was a great idea, and I was the right guy to pull it off. Thanks, Donald. Very nice thing to do. What wasn’t nice, was to call The Benefactor a copycat of The Apprentice.
A Trump quote from the Chicago Sun-Times in reference to The Benefactor:
“Because of the success of ‘The Apprentice,’ you’ll have 100 people trying to do shows a little bit like us, but
we have a very unique show and I have a very unique guy in [Burnett],” he said. “I’ll tell you something, it’s not
going to be easy to duplicate what we’ve done as a team.”
Let’s get some things cleared up in case anyone is confused. The Benefactor is going to be nothing like The Apprentice.Why? Because, Donald, we are not alike in any way. The funny thing is, in some respects, I have you to thank for that.
Back in Jan of 1999, I went to a SuperBowl party at Mar-a-Lago. I was there with some friends who had brought me along. I happened to bump into one of the founders of Yahoo by your pool and was talking to him when you walked up. It was just your typical, short meet-and-greet, but what you said left a lasting impession. You told us that “someday, maybe we could sit up there with the rich people” as you looked up to a 2nd floor patio that had a smattering of people eating their diner. Someday, Donald.
I don’t quite remember all the details, but not long after Igot a note from you asking to come meet in New York. Sure, I thought. Why not?
We had a good meeting, talkedabout your internet plans
and how it would sell and promote all things Trump. We talked . You had a sharp guy there with you. We didn’t do any business, but we gave it a shot. That wasn’t the educational part of the meeting. It was your office. It was covered, literally, every inch of every wall with pictures and magazine covers of you.
I have been in a lot of offices. I have seen pictures with the president, with family, with various famous people, but the over/under was usually 5 pictures, not 100. At that point in my life I was very well off financially, but I had a lot morepaper money from stockin my net worth than cash.Our encountersproved to bea reality check for me.
After leaving your office, I promised myself that if I ever got liquid and had an obscene amount of money in the bank, I would make a point not to remind myself and everyone else around me of it every minute of every day
unlike you.
I guess our definition of success is just completely different.
I used to wear a suit to work every day. I worked hard so I wouldn’t have to. I bought a big house soI could throw a football and play whiffleball in it, rather than show it off. Idon’t play golf, I work out. I don’t have an entourage, I have friends. You talk about how much you are getting paid per episode, I talk about the fact I’m not. You need to make more, I have enough.But those are little things.
Where we are 180 degrees differentis how we deal with business partners. You talk about how your problem casinos are just 1 pct of your net worth. I would feel like shit if I had a failing business with partners that were going to lose moneyand would talk about what it meant tomy partners net worth, not my own. Heck, I won’t even let friends invest in any of my companies until I’m certain they will make it. How in the world can you pay yourself while shareholders take a beating?
I like your show. Itwas entertaining and broughtout your personality and approach to the world.
So will mine, and I can assure you they are nothing alike. If I wanted to do a show like yours, I would have met with Mark Burnett when he wanted to talk about taking your place after next season.
For a lot of reasons, I didn’t want to write this blog entry. In some ways it’s not fair to you to just lay into you like this. But the point of my blog is to try to tell the story behind the story that is in the paper.You could have said that you didn’t know much aboutour show and left it at that. Yousuggested our show was a duplicate of yours. It’s not. It won’t be. I wanted to make that perfectly clear.
Tell the World Please !
Comment by lee Lawrence -
iPad, Kindle, Nook, PC, MacEmail Subscription
Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.
Join 6,079,695 other followers
Call me crazy, but I still agree that two wrongs don't make a right
Blogs I Read
Send to Email Address
Your Email Address
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.JockBio: Yao Ming Biography
The face of the NBA may be LeBron James, but in terms of sheer worldwide numbers, the league&s international visage is Yao Ming. One of pro basketball&s most intriguing and popular players, he has done what many considered to be the impossible&become a bona fide Western big man without abandoning his very Eastern approach to the game. Through injuries and adversity, Ming has carved out a unique place in the world of sports. If Houston Rocket fans get their wish, the best may still be yet to come. This is his story…
Yao Ming was born
on September 12, 1980, in Shanghai, China—the only child of Fengdi
Fang and Yao Zhiyuan, his mother and father. Just about everyone in Ming's
homeland is raised an an only child because of the country's restrictions
on family size. Thanks to his parents—both of whom stood well over
six feet and had enjoyed excellent basketball careers—Ming had the
genetics and instincts necessary for stardom on the hardwood. Fang, a
center, was once captain of China's national women's team. Zhiyuan made
his mark with a local pro club in Shanghai.
Ming's mother and
father both held good jobs, Fang with a sports institute and Zhiyuan with
a harbor engineering company. The family lived in a custom-built apartment.
Larger-than-normal door frames accommodated their unusual height. Their
beds were extra long, and their clothes and shoes were also made to order.
Shanghai, the largest
city in China with a population of 11 million, was a wondrous place for
Ming to grow up. Located on the coast of the East China Sea between the
mouth of the Yangtze River to the north and the bays of Hangchow and Yu-p'an
to the south, Shanghai (which translates literally to &on the sea&)
was the first Chinese port to be opened to Western trade, and today stands
as one of the world's largest seaports. The city is also set apart by
innovation and modern thinking. Indeed, Shanghai is China's leader in
higher education and scientific research.
Initially, it was
these types of intellectual pursuits that fascinated Ming. Though his
parents tried to get him interested in basketball, he didn't give the
sport a second look until he was nine. Though he towered over other kids
his age, Ming was hindered by his bony frame and found it very difficult
to heave the ball toward the hoop. He was often outmuscled under the boards
by boys much smaller than him. In fact, friends used to joke that his
skinny arms looked like chopsticks. Fitness was a problem, too. After
one or two trips up and down the court Ming was winded.
Despite these shortcomings,
Ming's parents encouraged him to stick with basketball. He played in his
first organized basketball game after his tenth birthday, in a league
similar to Little League baseball in the U.S. His father promised gifts
for every shot he converted, and his mother nourished him with special
family recipes. Drawing on their own playing days, Fang and Zhiyuan also
offered plenty of advice and analysis. They also tutored their son on
the beauty of the game, especially from a center's standpoint.
By his twelfth birthday,
Ming had become serious about basketball. His parents sent him to Shanghai's
provincial sports academy, where he worked on his game several hours a
day. He lived in a dorm, and pedaled around campus on a bicycle that was
comically small for him.
Being away from home
focused Ming even more intently on basketball. His hero was Arvydas Sabonis,
the world-class center who rose to prominence for the Soviet national
teams of the mid-1980s. At the time, the 7-3 Lithuanian was honing his
game in Spain. Ming loved the way Sabonis—who later played with the
Portland Trailblazers—handled the ball, found open teammates with
dazzling passes and stepped away from the basket for outside jumpers.
He emulated his idol whenever he took the floor.
progress helped earn him a spot on his local youth team, the Shanghai
Oriental Sharks. By this time he had also discovered the world of basketball
on the other side of the Pacific. A limited schedule of NBA games was
broadcast in China, and Ming followed the Houston Rockets closely. Led
by Hakeem Olajuwon, another agile big man, the Rockets won back-to-back
championships in 1994 and 1995. Ming was hooked.
China's national basketball
program was also on the rise during the mid-1990s. Though an eighth-place
finish at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta didn't suggest it, the country
was developing a talent pipeline and filling it with youngsters like Ming.
The national team boasted two seven-footers, Wang Zhi-Zhi and Menk Bateer,
both of whom could run the floor, play tough defense and score near the
basket. Hoops had become so popular in China that a professional league,
the Chinese Basketball Association, had been launched. The focus of the
sport, however, was much different than in other countries. In China,
teamwork was valued over individual achievement. In fact, in the CBA's
first season, statistics weren't even kept.
Ming, who was pushing
seven feet himself, planned to join the hometown Shanghai Sharks of the
CBA for the 1997-98 season. Several American sporting goods companies
were also looking to latch on with the league. Nike was as aggressive
as any, inking a deal to sponsor the Sharks. When corporate executives
got their first look at the team's 17-year-old center, their eyes lit
up. Ming was invited to a Nike camp held in Paris in the summer of 1997.
Matched up against players his own age, he wowed everyone in attendance,
including Del Harris, at the time the coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.
From there Nike got
permission to bring Ming and a Sharks teammate, Liu Wei, to the U.S. They
played with an AAU junior elite team, then attended the Nike All-American
camp in Indianapolis. Surrounded by 200 of America's best teenage prospects,
Ming again flourished. Coaches and recruiters ranked him as the camp's
second-best center.
the strength of that performance, Ming was invited to be a counselor at
Michael Jordan's Flight School in Santa Barbara, California. Though his
English was limited, he fit in perfectly. Highlighting the camp for him
were the five-on-five scrimmages organized by Jordan each night. During
one game, Michael drained a three-pointer, then challenged Ming to do
the same. To Jordan's amazement, Ming ambled down the court and nailed
one from beyond the arc.
Before going home,
Ming played for China in the FIBA 22-and-Under World Championship in Melbourne,
Australia. It was a humbling experience. China failed to win any of its
seven games and finished dead last among the 12 teams in the tournament.
Nonetheless, Ming
returned to Shanghai a more confident and more rounded player. He was
still noodle-thin, however, and paid the price during the CBA season.
Opponents battered Ming under the boards, regularly sending him sprawling
to the floor. He took his licks all year long, as did the Sharks, who
finished eighth out of the league's 12 teams.
Hakeem Olajuwon
Ming finally began
to fill out after his 18th birthday. Though his upper body remained weak,
he gained strength in his legs, which were growing thick and muscular.
He also developed a more varied arsenal of offensive moves. Ming put his
A game on display during the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) Championship
for Junior Men in Calcutta, India. With their seven-foot center leading
the way, the Chinese captured the title, and Ming was named tournament
When the 1998-99 CBA
campaign began, Ming was a different player. He was able to hold his own
against older, more experienced opponents. Shanghai's fortunes improved
as Ming found his way in the league. He averaged 25 points and 15 rebounds,
and the Sharks jumped to fourth place in the standings.
In 1999 Ming was added
to the Chinese men's national team. His first taste of international competition
at this level came during the ABC Championship for Men in Fukuoka, Japan.
Ming relished the challenge of going up against players more intense and
talented than those he faced in the CBA. He, Zhi-Zhi and Bateer formed
a terrifying trio, and China cruised to the title. Ming averaged 12 points
and nearly seven rebounds, and regularly made his presence felt on defense.
Against stiffer competition
in the FIBA Junior World Championship, however, the Chinese were overmatched.
The US blew them out, 119-59, in their first game, and from there China
mustered just one victory.
Ming learned a lot
from his summer of international play. He demonstrated more maturity on
the floor, and with a better idea of the skills he needed to work on,
his all-around game improved. Though his scoring dipped a bit in the
CNBA season, he was more of a force in the paint, both on offense and
defense. Ming led the Sharks to second place in standings, then keyed
a run to the CBA final against the Bayi Rockets. But Shanghai was no competition
for the Rockets and their veteran star, Zhi-Zhi, who claimed their sixth
straight title in a three-game sweep.
For Ming, facing Zhi-Zhi
for the championship was an accomplishment in and of itself. He viewed
his counterpart as an older brother and took cues from him personally
and professionally. At the time, Zhi-Zhi was being pursued by the Dallas
Mavericks, who had used a first-round draft choice on him in June of 1999.
While Ming had already begun to envision an NBA career of his own, he
hoped his friend would be China's first basketball ambassador to the U.S.
After the CBA final,
Ming, Zhi-Zhi and the rest of China's elite players began training for
the 2000 Olympics. The only Asian entry in the basketball tournament,
the Chinese were honored just to be suiting up for the Summer Games. Their
goal in Australia was to show the world's best players that they belonged
on the same court with them.
Despite the presence
of Ming, Zhi-Zhi and Bateer—collectively nicknamed &The Walking
Great Wall&—China was not well regarded in the international
hoops community. The level of play in the CBA was thought to be no better
than that of Division II in the U.S. Even Chinese fans acknowledged their
game had a ways to go.
China got the game
it wanted right away, a battle against the Americans. Though drubbed 119-72,
the Chinese left the floor with their heads held high. No one appeared
the least bit intimidated by the mighty Dream Team, and twice in the first
half the Chinese actually held the lead, 13-7 and 17-16. Most impressive
was Ming's performance. In the early minutes of the contest he rejected
a shot by Vince Carter, then later swatted away a floater by Gary Payton.
While his final numbers were modest (five points and three rebounds in
16 minutes), the media and fans back in China were inspired by his fearless
play. Ming was quickly developing into a national idol.
The Chinese responded
to their rout at the hands of the Dream Team by manhandling New Zealand,
75-60, in their next game. But a pair of lopsided defeats to France and
Lithuania ended all hopes of a medal run. Ming and his teammates gained
a measure of redemption with an 85-76 victory over Italy, then lost to
Spain to conclude the tournament. All in all, their ninth-place finish
was perfectly respectable.
Yao Ming opened a
lot of eyes with his play during the Olympics. For the tournament, he
finished sixth in rebounding and second in blocked shots. While he also
turned the ball over 15 times in six games, NBA evaluators noted his tremendous
athleticism and his desire to mix it up in the lane.
Within months, speculation
started as to whether Ming would enter the 2001 NBA draft. A pair of highly
touted high schoolers, Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler, were already leaning
toward going pro. If Ming followed their lead, it was possible that a
collegiate player would not be among the first three players taken in
the draft, something that had never before happened in the NBA's 55-year
But as the months
passed, it seemed less and less likely that Ming would come to America.
The two stumbling blocks were the Sharks and the Chinese government. The
Shanghai club would certainly place a sizable price tag on the head of
its star, while public officials in China would have a laundry list of
requirements and conditions to be met before approving his departure.
NBA teams, however, took heart in the fact that the Chinese were in the
running to host the 2008 Summer Olympics. Granting Ming the freedom to
play in the US would bolster China's bid. Therefore, it was a safe bet
that at some point down the road he would be wearing an NBA uniform.
Yao Ming, 1999 Omni
meanwhile, was back on the court with the Sharks, again gunning for a
CBA championship. He enjoyed another spectacular season, averaging 27
points, topping the league in rebounding (19.4) and blocked shots (5.5),
and appeared in his first All-Star game. He also led the CBA in dunks,
a sign that he was embracing an American style of play. In Communist China,
jamming is frowned upon because it focuses too much attention on the individual.
For the second year
in a row, Shanghai advanced to the CBA final. Again their opponent was
Bayi, and again the Sharks were steamrolled, losing the series three games
to one. Ming's consolation was being named to the All-Playoff team. He
was also voted the league MVP.
When the 2000-01 campaign
ended, a new controversy ignited. For the past two years, a U.S. agent
named Frank Duffy had been forging a relationship with Ming and his family.
But with the youngster's stock rising, more and more people were vying
for the right to represent him. Super agent David Falk of the SFX Sports
Group began courting the Sharks, and soon word spread that he had the
inside track to Ming. Michael Coyne, a Cleveland-based agent, also had
his hat in the ring. In 1999 he had struck a deal with Shanghai that secured
him up to 40 percent of Ming's NBA earnings through June of 2002.
Feeling he was being
squeezed out, Duffy advised Ming to send a letter to NBA commissioner
David Stern and Billy Hunter, executive director of the NBA players union.
In the correspondence, he advised both that a nasty legal battle awaited
if Falk or anyone else continued to interfere. In the end, the private
and public maneuverings only served to sour the Chinese on the NBA. Ultimately
it was determined that Ming would forego the 2001 draft.
Ming spent the following
summer touring the world with the Chinese national team. One of their
stops was Dallas, where he received some one-on-one instruction from Kiki
Vandeweghe, who was then working for the Mavericks. The Chinese also competed
in a full slate of international tournaments. At the East Asian Games
in Japan, Ming helped China reach the final against Australia. Despite
his 11 points, eight rebounds and five blocks, the Chinese fell 105-93.
Weeks later China dominated an uneven field in the Asian Championships.
The team took all eight of its games by double-digits to win the tournament,
and Ming was named MVP.
next led China to the silver medal at the World University Games, in Beijing.
The team's most impressive victory came in the semifinals against the
U.S., a squad that included Juan Dixon and Lonny Baxter of Maryland, Roger
Mason Jr. of Virginia and Lyn Greer of Temple. To the delight of the home
fans, the Chinese roared to an 11-point lead, then held off a fierce rally
from the Americans for an 83-82 victory. Ming chipped in with 12 points.
In the final, however, China was routed by Yugoslavia, 101-61.
Ming quickly shifted
his focus to the 2001-02 CBA campaign. He and the Sharks were a team on
a mission. Sparked in part by a couple of Americans—Lloyd &Sweet
Pea& Daniels and Steve Hart—Shanghai rolled during the regular
season, posting a record of 23-1. On his way to his second consecutive
MVP award, Ming was phenomenal, averaging 29.7 points, 18.5 rebounds and
4.8 blocks.
In the playoffs, he
guided Shanghai to a pair of series sweeps, setting up another showdown
with Bayi for the league title. Two things worked in the Sharks' favor
this time around. First, the Rockets were without Zhi-Zhi, who by now
had joined the Mavericks. Second, Shanghai had bolstered its roster with
the addition of David Benoit, a member of the Utah Jazz during the team's
heyday in the late 1990s. Those factors helped turn the tables on Bayi.
The Sharks won the best-of-five final to capture their first championship.
Ming raised his performance to a new level, averaging 41 points and 21
rebounds a game.
Yao Ming, 2000 SCI
Ming's attention then
shifted to the NBA draft. The Sharks and the Chinese government seemed
open to negotiating his release, so it was time to start boning up on
American cities. At first, he thought he'd like to go to a team in a major
market with a large Chinese population, such as New York, Chicago or Golden
State. When the Rockets won the lottery, he began to think that Houston
might be an even better place to play. For one thing, the media there
wasn't nearly as aggressive as it was in bigger U.S. cities. Considering
the headlines that his arrival in the NBA promised to generate, this was
a bonus. Also, coach Rudy Tomjanovich and GM Carroll Dawson had plenty
of experience with athletic big men. Ming remembered Rudy T as the man
at the helm when Hakeem and the Rockets soared to a pair of NBA titles.
Of course, there were
no guarantees that Ming would be the first overall draftee. In May, with
debate raging over whether Houston should gamble its pick on Ming, he
held a workout for 25 NBA teams at Loyola's Alumni Gym in north Chicago.
The hour-long session was run by former NBA coach P.J. Carlesimo. Also
participating were Chris Christoffersen, a 7-2 center from Oregon, Marquette
point guard Cordell Henry and Mitch Henderson, an assistant coach at Northwestern.
Ming displayed his soft shooting touch, quick feet, and shot-blocking
abilities, but he seemed to lack intensity. Many NBA teams left Chicago
with more questions than answers about him.
The Rockets, however,
were sold on Ming's potential and his desire to achieve greatness, and
took him on draft day. There was just one problem: Negotiations with the
Sharks stalled. Shanghai's hesitancy to strike a deal was partly due to
bad blood that had surfaced between Bayi and Dallas over Zhi-Zhi. When
the CBA requested that the seven-footer return home to play for the Chinese
national team, the Mavericks didn’t exactly cooperate. The Sharks
feared a similar situation might develop with Ming.
With Houston trying
to work out a deal, Ming prepared to join China for the World Basketbal
Championship, in Indianapolis. While the Chinese were again smoked by
the competition, he stood out on both ends of the court. He averaged 21
points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.25 blocked shots, shot an eye-popping 75 percent
from the field, and was named to the all-tournament team at center.
From there, Ming,
still unsigned by the Rockets, led China to the silver medal at the All-Asian
Games. Finally, in October, he inked a deal with Houston. His contract—four
years at $17.8 million—included a $350,000 transfer fee paid to the
Sharks, and allows the CBA to call him back to China for international
competitions. In addition, an estimated half of his salary goes to various
Chinese sporting agencies.
Rudy Tomjanovich,
1973 Topps
team Ming joined was on the rise. Though Houston finished a dismal 28-54
in 2001-02, most observers agreed that the Rockets had talent. Guard Steve
Francis had blossomed into an All-Star, Cuttino Mobley was a proven 20-point
scorer, and forward Eddie Griffin had loads of potential. Ming was the
man who might just bring everyone together. Tomjanovich and Dawson were
most excited about the pairing of their rookie center with Francis. The
duo promised to provide a solid nucleus for years to come.
By the NBA All-Star
break, it was safe to say that Ming and the Rockets had surpassed all
expectations. The big man listened to his coaches, learned from his mistakes,
and maintained his implacable demeanor as he improved on a game-by-game
basis. Not that he wasn't good from the get-go. Despite scoring just 20
points in his first six games (thus eliciting a chorus of “I-told-you-so's”
from his detractors) Ming displayed soft hands, good anticipation, and
an understanding of how to do the little things when the big things weren't
happening. It was no coincidence that the Rockets notched four victories
in those games. As Ming's minutes increased, so did his numbers. He also
learned how to deal with the in-your-face style of the league's big men,
and now punctuates his glides to the basket with a dunk and a hint of
It didn't take long
for Ming to turn in some outstanding games. In a 103-90 loss to Dallas,
he collected 30 points and 16 rebounds. A month later he torched the Indiana
Pacers with 29 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks in a 95-83 Rockets win.
The biggest moment in his young NBA career came in a highly publicized
January match-up with Shaquille O'Neal and the Lakers. Six months earlier,
Shaq had cracked wise about Ming and his Chinese heritage. Though the
rookie brushed the remark aside, the media dredged it up before the game.
opened the contest by blocking three of O'Neal's shots and scoring on
a jump hook, a layup and a turnaround jumper. Shaq ultimately won the
battle with 31 points and 13 rebounds, but Ming won the war as the Rockets
emerged with a 108-104 overtime victory. Ming sealed the deal with a dunk
on a pretty passing sequence with Francis, who dropped 44 on L.A. The
victory was the 23rd of the year for the Rockets, putting them a couple
of months ahead of their previous season's pace.
From there Houston
entered into a battle with Phoenix for the 8th and final playoff spot
in the West. The club received disheartening news in March when Tomjanovic
was diagnosed with bladder cancer, but still kept an eye on the postseason.
Though the Rockets ultimately failed in their quest—the Suns edged
them by a single game—at 43-39, the season was a major success.
Ming had a lot to
do with Houston's improved play. An easy selection for the All-Rookie
team, he ended the campaign averaging 13.5 points and 8.2 rebounds. In
February he posted five double-doubles, then recorded six more in March
and April, including a season-high 19 rebounds versus Sacramento. In all
he placed in the top 20 in 11 statistical categories.
Ming's impact was
also felt off the court. He was voted to start over Shaq in the All-Star
game. Attendance was up all year at Houston home games, and a significant
portion of those tickets were sold to Asian fans.The Rockets-Lakers game
in January of 2003 was the second highest rated hoops broadcast in U.S.
cable history. Literally hundreds of millions of viewers tuned into Rockets
games back in China.
Ming also proved to
be a natural as a pitchman, starring in commercials for Apple and VISA.
As his English improved, his endorsements became more lucrative. The league,
meanwhile, was salivating over the thought of Ming as its global marketing
poster boy.
After his excellent
rookie campaign, Ming helped lead the Chinese National Basketball team
to an Olympic playoff berth. During a practice, however, he broke a bone
above his left eye, and was forced to sit out some exhibition games.
Back in Houston,
former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy was hired as the Rockets' new head
man for the 2003-04 season. Among his first moves was the implementation
of a new offense designed to spread the ball around more. Initially, this
didn't sit well with Francis, who still liked to run the show his way.
The team also suffered two other personnel problems, the release of Griffin
and a substance abuse suspension of Maurice Taylor.
Ming adjusted well
to Van Gundy's style. He topped the Rockets in scoring at 17.5 points
per game, and also raised his rebounding to nine a night. Ming was particularly
effective against opponenets without a true center. In January, he dominated
the Magic with 37 points and 10 rebounds. A month later he went for a
career-high 41 points in a 123-121 win over Atlanta. He enjoyed his best
stretch in March, averaging a double-double in 14 games.
The Rockets won eight
of those contests to put themselves in position for a playoff spot. Francis
and Van Gundy were getting along better, Mobley's shot selection improved,
and Jim Jackson was playing with renwed confidence. Despite ranking 25th
in the league in offense, Houston dug in on defense and finished at 45-37,
good for the seventh seed in the West.
Getting out of the
first round was going to be a challenge, as the Rockets squared off against
the Lakers. Many billed the series as a battle between Ming and Shaq,
and gave Houston a real shot at an upset.
The pundits were wrong.
Shaq outplayed Ming, and the Lakers ran away with the series in five games.
Houston's only victory came when Francis exploded for 27 points, while
Ming chipped in with 18 points and 10 boards.
Yao Ming, 2002 Sports
Illustrated
In June, after weeks
of rumors, the Rockets pulled the trigger on a major deal that changed
the face of the team. With Van Gundy still looking for a way to get Francis
on the same page with his teammates, particularly Ming, Houston solved
the problem by sending the point guard along with Mobley and Kelvin Cato
to Orlando for Tracy McGrady. The trade could have a huge impact in the
West. With the Lakers in flux, Ming and McGrady could be the next installent
of Shaq and Kobe—without all the tension.
Only two months later
Ming was again in the spotlight as he led the Chinese national team into
the Summer Games in Athens. Now in his second Olympics, a more experienced
Ming hoped to improve on China's ninth-place finish in Sydney.
As the Asian champions,
the Chinese opened pool play against European runner-up Spain. The game
was expected to be a showdown between Ming and Memphis Grizzlies star
Pau Gasol, but quickly became a one-sided affair as the Spanish ran away
with an 83-58 win. Ming played well in the loss, recording a double-double
with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
He had his most dominating
performance two days later, scoring 39 points and grabbing 13 rebounds
in a 69-62 victory over New Zealand. Unfortunately the Chinese then went
into a tailspin. They dropped four of their final five games of the tournament
and finished in eighth place. From a personal standpoint, Ming enjoyed
a great showing. Named to the All-Olympics team, he ranked third overall
in scoring at 20.7 ppg, and led all players in rebounding at 9.3 boards
per contest.
Back in Houston, it
took McGrady a while to come to grips with his new environs. In the early
part of the 2004-05 season, he assumed it would be the T-Mac and Yao Show,
but Van Gundy had a more complex plan in mind. He knew he needed a third
scoring option, and tried to create some chemistry to make one emerge.
Though this never happened, the team pulled together in the process and
started to close out wins that used to slip through their grasp.
Guard Bob Sura got
healthy and took control of the offense, early-season pickups David Wesley
and Jon Barry contributed key minutes off the bench, and as soon as the
usually controlling Van Gundy saw a natural rhythm develop, he just let
his players play. The Rockets ignited prior to the All-Star Break and
took off from there, finishing with 51 wins.
The difference was
less Ming and more McGrady. The newcomer was clearly an elite NBA star.
Ming was essentially the same player as the year before—a good center,
but not as great one. Instead of rising to challenge Shaq as the league’s
best pivot man, he sank further into the &next-best& category.
Ming finished the year with good numbers (18.3 points per game, 8.4 rebounds
and two blocks), but he rarely dominated. McGrady believed he had to get
angry on the court, while scouts thought he needed to get a half-step
quicker and a few pounds stronger. The Rockets just wanted him to take
a summer off and rest up.
First, however, there
was the small matter of the NBA playoffs. Ming raised his scoring average
to 21.4 in a seven-game war with the Mavericks and Erick Dampier, who
was now claiming he had no peers in the pivot in the west. The series
started well for the Rockets but badly for Ming, who fouled out of Game
1 in 20 minutes. But Houston kept the Dallas offense under wraps and won
Ming bounced back
in Game 2, converting 13 of 14 shots for 33 points as the Rockets won
again on the Mavs’ home court. But Dallas dug deep and seized control
of the series, winning three straight. Van Gundy went ballistic when he
saw the ways officials allowed the Mavs to mug Ming, and was fined $100,000
for accusing the league of conspiring against his center. The Rockets
won Game 6 to stay alive, but Game 7 was a disaster, a 116-76 blowout
that was the worst finale defeat in NBA history. The last gasp against
the Mavs illustrated Houston’s problem completely. Ming scored 33,
T-Mac added 27, and the rest of the guys bagged 16.
Retooling the Rockets promised to be a challenge, but it became a near impossibility the following season when Ming was diagnosed with osteomyelitis in his left big toe. This was the same painful disease that nearly crippled Mickey Mantle (and has led to amputation in extreme cases). Ming underwent surgery to address the problem, yet his popularity among NBA fans barely waned. When the votes were tabulated for the 2006 All-Star Game, Houston&s center was once again finished ahead of everyone else.
Ming ended up missing a total of 25 games during the 2005&06 campaign. Still, he averaged a double-double for the first time: 22.3 points and 10.3 rebounds a night. Adding to Houston&s woes was the fact that McGrady was on the sidelines half the year with back problems. Thanks to workmanlike contributions from Juwan Howard, Rafer Alston and Luther Head, the Rockets were with sniffing range of a .500 season. But with four games to go Ming broke his already troublesome left foot and spent the next six months off the hardwood.
Every expert had an opinion on how Ming would bounce back from his injuries. He defied even the most ambitious expectations by starting the 2006&07 season like every night was Game 7. Ming exhibited a keener understanding of what NBA teams were doing against him and became a smarter shooter, passer and ballhandler. His defense and rebounding also improved. Then, while blocking a shot, he fell to the floor and fractured his right knee. Ming missed 34 games.
The Rockets, under the deft leadership of Van Gundy, maintained a high level of play without their star center. Dikembe Mutombo filled in (as he had the year before) and McGrady, Howard and newcomer Shane Battier gave the team a good forward line. Ming returned in March and helped the Rockets reach the 50-win plateau.
The Rockets and their fans were aiming high as the playoffs began. They faced the Utah Jazz, a tricky team led by Andrei Kirilenko, Deron Williams, and Carlos Boozer. The Rockets took the first two games but the Jazz battled back to force a Game 7 in Houston. Ming scored 35 points and lifted the team on his shoulders by netting 15 in a wild forth quarter. Boozer was even better, scoring 41 and hitting a pair of clutch free throws in the closing moments. The Jazz eked out a win, and Ming was distraught in the locker room. He told reporters he hadn&t done his job. A couple of weeks later the Van Gundy era came to an end in Houston.
Under new coach Rick Adelman, the Rockets hit their stride around mid-year in the 2007-08 season. They won eight straight heading into All-Star Weekend&Ming was voted the West&s starting center&and four more after that to run their string to 12 victories. All was not well with Ming, however. He had been experiencing pain in his left foot again. X-rays revealed a stress fracture. He was done for the season. Ming was averaging a double-double at the time.
To Ming&s delight, Houston kept winning without him. They went 22 games without a loss&the second longest in league history. The Rockets finished the year with an astonishing 55 wins, but without Ming, they
looked helpless in the playoffs against the Jazz, who beat them in six games.
Ming&s left foot was strengthened with the surgical implanting of several screws. He rested and rehabbed four four months, returning to the court in time for the Olympics in Beijing. As China&s most recognizable sports hero, he was a featured participant in the awe-inspiring opening ceremonies, carrying the nation&s flag at the head of its athletic contingent. Ming also carried the Olympic torch into Tiananman Square.
Ming got China's hoops team off to a great start in their opening game against Team USA by nailing a 3-pointer. It was all downhill from there. The Americans won in a rout, 101-70. The Chinese next lost to Spain in overtime. After a win over Angola, China treated its fans to a huge victory, beating Germany 59-55. Ming was dominant with 25 points and 11 rebounds. That proved to be the highlight for the host country. The Chinese bowed out in the quarter-finals to Lithuania.
Tracy McGrady, 2007 SI for Kids
Ming opened the 2008&09 season with more confidence than ever. And the Rockets were feeling good about running the offense through him. He stayed in the lineup for 77 games&his first full season in four years&and averaged a shade under 20 points and 10 rebounds. He shot a career-best 86.6 percent from the charity stripe.
The stars seemed to be aligned for Houston until February, when McGrady was felled by a season-ending knee injury. Doctors had scoped the joint prior to the season, but something didn't feel right beginning in January. Yet just as the Rockets had won without Ming the previous season, they held their own without T-Mac, posting a 53-29 mark and finishing a mere game behind the Spurs for the division title.
Heading into the playoffs, the Rockets knew that the Lakers were the team to beat in the West. They made it through their first series with Portland and felt strong going up against Los Angeles. Ron Artest and Shane Battier were the kind of players who could keep Kobe Bryant contained, and Aaron Brooks had blossomed into a playoff-tough guard.
Sure enough, the Rockets stung the Lakers in L.A., taking a 100-92 victory in Game 1. Ming led the team with 28 points and 10 rebounds. The Lakers evened the series in Game 2, and then disaster struck in Game 3. Ming felt a sharp pain in his left foot. He gutted it out the rest of the way, hoping it was just an ankle tweak. Coach Adelman and Ming&s teammates marveled at his ability to play through the pain. Days later, however, their worst fears were confimed. Ming had a hairline fracture of his foot. The Rockets ruled him out for the remainder of the playoffs.
Over the summer, doctors determined that Ming&s foot injury would require a year to heal. He underwent reconstructive surgery and sat out the 2009&10 season. Houston was able to sign Trevor Ariza in compensation for the salary cap hit they took&and they traded for Kevin Martin during the year&but it wasn&t enough. The center-less Rockets finished 42&40 and missed the playoffs.
Ming held a player option for the fifth and final year of his contract with the Rockets. He did not pick up the option until he was sure he was healthy enough to take the court. Ming spent the summer working his way back into playing shape. Chinese fans hoped he would join the national team for the World Championships in August, but he skipped the tournament knowing that his friend and fellow NBA center Yi Jianlian would acquit himself well.
Meanwhile, the Rockets set their lineup for the coming season. Sharpshooter Martin begins his first full year with the team, while Ming should get rebounding help from Luis Scola, Chuck Hayes and Ariza. And as always, Shane Battier will give the team whatever it needs off the bench. A championship squad? Houston fans just hope it's a healthy one.
Yao Ming, 2007 Fleer
Ming&s basketball journey has reached an interesting crossroads. He has erased any doubt that he can be a franchise player in the NBA, and few would argue that he has the skills and makeup to take the right team to the finals. Up for discussion is Ming&s durability, especially now that he has turned 30. As Ming enters the key years of what could still turn out to be a Hall of Fame career, the injury question&both for him and the Rockets&is all that remains.
THE PLAYER
Though Ming stands 7-5, he possesses the moves and agility of someone much smaller. He can dribble, pass and shoot from the outside, and has all the fundamentals needed to become a superior shot-blocker and rebounder. Thanks to his parents, he has a feel for the poetry of basketball, and there are times when it's fun just to watch how he moves around the floor and reacts to the game around him.
Ming is also an excellent free throw shooter&a key attribute for a successful NBA big man. He has actually led the Rockets in this category in years past.
Early in his career, Ming admitted that he needed to become more forceful on the floor. He had to abandon his Chinese roots and develop a mean streak. Although no one would ever accuse him of being an enforcer, he has demonstrated enough toughness to earn the respect of his fellow NBA centers.
As far as his teammates are concerned, Ming has all the right moves. He is unquestionably a team-first guy, not to mention a highly intelligent and likable person. He doesn't point fingers or shoot dirty looks at teammates when the Rockets lose, and he doesn't gripe to the refs when he gets hammered and doesn't get the call. When the team falls short of its goals, he is willing to take responsibility.
Copyright 2010 Black Book Partners, LLC. All rights reserved.}