Houston Rockets Selects Yao Ming with First Pick in NBA Draft

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, June 27, 2002

Houston Rockets Selects Yao Ming with First Pick in NBA Draft

Tao Ming, the 7-foot-5 center, who gained clearance from the Chinese national federation to play in the NBA only hours earlier, was selected first overall by the Rockets in the draft Wednesday night.

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With a high-five and a handshake for his parents, Yao Ming belonged to Houston.

The 7-foot-5 center, who gained clearance from the Chinese national federation to play in the NBA only hours earlier, was selected first overall by the Rockets in the draft Wednesday night.

Yao did not attend the draft at Madison Square Garden. He was in Beijing for training with his national team. Yao shared high-fives and handshakes with his family as commissioner David Stern announced the pick, which marked the first time a foreign player who did not play in college ball in the United States went No. 1 in the draft.

"This is a new start in my basketball and life career," Yao said through an interpreter. "There will be a new challenge for me. I am confident I will learn from the NBA and improve myself."

The first trade of the night was a big one. The New York Knicks acquired former All-Star Antonio McDyess and the 25th overall pick from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Marcus Camby, Mark Jackson and the rights to the No. 7 pick, Brazilian teen-ager "Nene" Hilario.

The choice of Yao at No. 1 was expected, although the Rockets went through a few nervous days leading up to the draft while they waited to learn whether he would receive clearance from his national team. Yao had earlier reached a severance agreement with his professional team, the Shanghai Sharks.

The Chinese federation was concerned about Yao's availability for national team commitments, but an agreement was reached earlier Wednesday.

"The whole franchise wanted this so badly. I just felt that it would all be worked out," Houston general manager Carroll Dawson said.

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