Possible Top-Pick Yao Not Be Present at NBA Draft

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, June 22, 2002

Possible Top-Pick Yao Not Be Present at NBA Draft

Possible top pick of this year's NBA draft Yao Ming will not be present at the ceremony scheduled on June 26 due to national team duty, said the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) on Friday.

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Possible top pick of this year's NBA draft Yao Ming will not be present at the ceremony scheduled on June 26 due to national team duty, said the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) on Friday.

"Yao is training with the national side in preparation for a four-squad tournament later this month which features Yugoslavia, Italy, Australia and China and the World Men's Basketball Championship in Autumn and the Asian Games in October," read a press release from the CBA, China's governing body for the sport.

"We have decided that he not go to the United States to attend the Draft after discussions with the national team.

"Whether Yao be present at the Draft or not, it will not affect his future in the NBA,"

The CBA confirmed that the Houston Rockets had contacted with them to discuss selecting the 2.26-meter (7-5 feet) center from the Shanghai Sharks with their first pick of the NBA draft in New York on June 26.

"Recently, Houston Mayor, the Rockets' general manager, coach and lawyer as well as the Shanghai Sharks and others concerned hadcontacted us addressing Yao's play in the NBA," it added. "All of these contacts have been friendly and effective."

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