WASHINGTON - Chinese rookie Yi Jianlian will be an all-star in the National Basketball Association, said Milwaukee Bucks general manager Larry Harris.
Milwaukee Bucks Yi Jianlian (R) of China shoots the ball over Toronto Raptors Anthony Parker during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Toronto, January 25, 2008. [Agencies] The Milwaukee newspaper Journal Sentinel said on Saturday that Harris is glad that the Bucks were able to land the 7-foot rookie from China in the June 2007 draft, with the sixth overall pick.
Yi, who will face off against countryman Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets at the Bradley Center in one week, has been in the Bucks' starting lineup for all 44 games this season.
"I've seen progress in every part of his game," Harris said. "I'm not so worried about him missing shots, because you know what, they all still look like they're going in. They're all within his rhythm and range.
"He's expanding his game. I like the fact that he's aggressive taking it to the basket. I like the fact that he's offensive rebounding and trying to go up there. The strength factor and conditioning and getting used to 17 games in a month, that just comes with experience."
When Yi was playing for the Guangdong Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association, he had fewer games and much more practice time than he does in the NBA. He has admitted he is adjusting to the rigors of the schedule and travel, yet he said he does not feel tired.
"He's still going to be there every night to answer the bell, and I anticipate at anytime he's going to score 14, 16, 20 points, " Harris said. "That opportunity is there for him every time he steps on the floor."
Yi played a season-low 13 minutes against Indiana on Thursday, in part due to matchups because the Pacers went with a small lineup. He had six points and four rebounds in 22 minutes as the Bucks lost to the Toronto Raptors, 106-75, on Friday night, but coach Larry Krystkowiak went with his reserves exclusively in the final quarter.
"He has exceeded my expectations," Harris said. "I'd love to sit here and tell you, 'Yeah, we saw it all.' I thought there was going to be more of a transition, especially at the defensive end and with the quickness and strength factors.
"I think his body will develop and that will become a non-factor as he continues his growth. Now teams are game-planning for him; they're sticking smaller players on him so he's not able to just catch and shoot. I think his game could be both at small forward and power forward, though I think his primary position is a power forward."
Yi is certain to be selected for the Rookie Challenge game, to be played on the Friday of all-star weekend in mid-February.
Yi finished fifth among Eastern Conference forwards in the all-star balloting, based exclusively on write-in votes and his immense popularity in China. While he's not all-star caliber yet, he will get a taste of the NBA's big event with his participation in the rookie game in New Orleans.
"I see the all-star balloting, and I see where he's at," Harris said. "It's only a matter of time. I expect him to be an all-star soon, and he's going to be a major factor in this league."
Teenager, adolescent, kid and child 英语中“孩子”的几种说法
Delhi's pollution and South Africa's solar power 新德里环境污染,南非发展太阳能
Diabetes warning and Queen at 90 糖尿病激增引忧, 英国女王90岁生日
Antibiotics and escalator etiquette 美国人过多使用抗生素,伦敦地铁扶梯礼仪
Ebola outbreak and brain injuries 埃博拉疫情,脑部创伤
Distinct 和 distinctive 之间的区别
Distinguished 和 distinguishable 之间的区别
Dangerous heartbeat, Spike Lee and the Oscars 危险的心跳,斯派克·李抵制奥斯卡
EU after Brexit, human ancestor mystery 英脱欧公投后的欧盟,人类祖先之谜新发现
Brexit and Hockney's art 英国脱欧公投后进展,大卫·霍克尼艺术展
Canada wildfire and NASA discovery 加拿大林火,美国国家航空航天局发现系外行星
Counting elephants, Australian Elvis 空中数大象,澳大利亚“猫王节”
Commend 和 recommend 的区别
Appreciate 和 recognise 之间的区别
UN female, New flag and Apollo 11 倡议提名女秘书长,新西兰换国旗和阿波罗11号再创历史
Angelina Jolie to divorce, Karaoke star at 80 安吉丽娜·朱莉提出离婚申请,八十岁老人出唱片
Mars bars and baby gorilla 火星巧克力棒和大猩猩产幼子
Russian athletes and friendly robots 俄罗斯运动员服用兴奋剂,“合作机器人”
World's longest tunnel and a strange kind of race 世界最长铁路隧道,扛羊毛袋比赛
Clash 和 crash 之间的区别
Cosmonaut anniversary and wallaby internet star 宇航员周年纪念日,小袋鼠轰动互联网
Connection and link 两个表示“关系”的单词
Artefacts in Sydney and dog gets medal 悉尼出土文物,英雄狗获奖章
Zika virus, Rare whale filmed in Australia 寨卡病毒传播风险,澳大利亚拍到罕见鲸鱼影像
India's sewer workers and British school standards 印度下水道工人施工安全,英国在校生学习成绩下降
Ten a penny 多得遍地都是
Indian state introduces 'fat tax' 印度一省拟征收“脂肪税”
Creativity、innovation 和 originality 的区别
Battery risk, Farmer anti-theft solution 纽扣电池的潜在危险,牧场主防盗有术
Big Ben and gorilla surprise 维修大本钟,大猩猩生子