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"Other players are going to want to do the things Yao Ming is doing" - When MJ predicted a surge of Asian talent in the NBA
"Other players are going to want to do the things Yao Ming is doing" - When MJ predicted a surge of Asian talent in the NBA originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Michael Jordan acknowledged the remarkable evolution occurring within the NBA during his final return in 2001. One of the most striking observations MJ made was the emerging potential of Asian talent entering the league.
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Jordan's keen insight led him to believe that the ascent of Yao Ming, who was rapidly gaining prominence as a star player, could represent the beginning of a significant breakthrough for Asian athletes in basketball. He recognized that this development not only had the potential to elevate the profile of Asian players but also posed substantial benefits for the NBA as an organization. By embracing this influx of talent, the league could diversify its appeal and strengthen its global reach, fostering a richer, more inclusive basketball environment.
"I think Asia, it will continue to grow with the talent that's in the league now, and the other players are going to want to do the things Yao Ming is doing,'' Jordan told reporters in Hong Kong back in 2004. "I think it's going to be very positive.''
"Those guys have started to show that the game has started to expand toward Asia,'' the former Chicago Bulls superstar added. "It helps the game of basketball to be able to globally be connected to so many different countries.''
Kobe saw the same thing
Before Yao, it was his compatriot Wang Zhi-Zhi who generated buzz in the NBA. Wang was the first Chinese player to compete in the NBA, and his arrival was perceived as groundbreaking progress for both the league and the Chinese basketball community.
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Very much like Jordan, then-Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant also recognized the same thing about more Asian players coming into the NBA. The Black Mamba also credited the media for playing a key role in reaching audiences from different parts of the globe.
"I don't see why not," Bryant told CNN when asked if he thinks players from other countries could possibly play in the NBA. "I mean, it's just a game. No matter where you're from, it doesn't matter. If you pick up a basketball, and go on your driveway or go to the playground, and play basketball. The more you play, the better you get."
"If you look at the NBA now, you have a Chinese player [Wang Zhi-Zhi] playing for the Dallas Mavericks," he pointed out. "What happens is through communication through Satellite TV, people can now see the how the NBA is played, and they get a chance to learn from these players. As a result, you'll see a lot more of foreign players coming into the NBA now."
Related: "He never ever allowed Air Jordan to enter into the locker room" - BJ Armstrong said Michael Jordan was very different behind the scenes
Who's gonna be the next great Asian NBA player?
A number of Asian players have made it to the NBA in the past 25 years. However, nobody has achieved what Yao has accomplished in his tenure in the league.
So far, the last Asian NBA player to make great strides in the league was Taiwanese-American former point guard Jeremy Lin. Through the Linsanity phenomenon, Lin managed to put Asian talent back on the map. However, it only lasted for a short period of time.
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In the current NBA, Japan's Rui Hachimura has been displaying a promising career ahead of him. However, it is yet to be known if the NBA will ever see another Yao or Lin type player.
Related: "I just don't understand English back then" - Yao Ming assumed Michael Jordan trash-talked him in their first duel
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
