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NBA happy with buzz Ui Jianlian creates in China

Yi Jianlian of the Milwaukee Bucks looks to pass during a preseason game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, last Thursday. The Bulls defeated the Bucks 97-81. PHOTO: AFP

National Basketball Association (NBA) commissioner David Stern is delighted with the buzz that Yi Jianlian (易建聯) is creating in his homeland.

Milwaukee Bucks teammate Andrew Bogut is more concerned with helping the Chinese teenager settle into his new home.

Bogut, an Australian who was the top overall selection in the 2005 draft, knows what it's like to play in the NBA as a foreigner carrying the expectations of a nation.

"I'm not a veteran by any means, but I've been here long enough to know that you've got to be different as an international player," said Bogut, who played two years of US college basketball before becoming the first Australian selected No. 1 overall.

"I think international players take it a bit harder when they get to the league. You've just got to figure out you've got 82 games, forget about the last game and look to the next game. I think he will be all right once he meets some people," Bogut said.

He said he thought the Bucks made a savvy decision in selecting Yi sixth overall in June.

"I think he has a chance to be very, very good," Bogut said. "I've played against him a couple of times and he's just very quick and mobile for a big guy."

Some in Yi's camp were unhappy at the prospect of having him play in Milwaukee. They worried that he wouldn't see enough playing time, and also cited the Wisconsin city's lack of a large Asian community.

The 2.13m 19-year-old star for China's Guangdong Tigers finally signed a multi-year contract on Aug. 29, which will pay him US$2.3 million in his debut season according to rookie salary regulations.

Bogut said he believes Yi will come to like Milwaukee, as he has.

"I have a house, nice property," Bogut said. "I can actually go outside and have a coffee for once, instead of sitting on a balcony 26 floors up [in the city]. I'm really happy in Milwaukee."

While his teammates are welcoming, they indicated during training camp that a culture gap wouldn't make Yi immune to the usual rookie initiation rites.

"I think that's the one part he'll have to get adjusted to," forward Desmond Mason said, flashing a devious smile. "Carrying other people's bags and shoes and getting doughnuts.

"We might have him sing a little bit. You do rookies like that because you had to do it as a rookie but at the end of the day, you look out for him, too," he said.

While the Bucks and their Milwaukee fans were getting excited about Yi's arrival, Stern was looking with an approving eye on the excitement he was generating back home in China.

He said CCTV-5, the Chinese sports network, was already anticipating coverage of Yi and the Bucks' home game against compatriot Yao Ming's (姚明) Houston on Feb. 2, coinciding with the Lunar New Year celebrations.

"From the NBA's perspective, having another bona fide Chinese superstar in waiting -- he's coming here with less exposure and less experience than Yao, but there are very high hopes for him in his homeland," Stern said.

The Los Angeles Lakers were ready to launch their NBA campaign by hosting the Houston Rockets yesterday, with All Star guard Kobe Bryant expected to start despite struggling with a pre-season wrist injury.

Bryant, one of the NBA's biggest drawcards, has made a habit of hogging the limelight and was the subject of recent trade speculation with the latest rumors linking him to the Chicago Bulls.

While Lakers head coach Phil Jackson was critical of Bryant's commitment over the weekend, the 62-year-old is confident his top player will remain in Los Angeles for the time being.
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