Yao Ming Treasures

Mick Kupchak was reduced to tears today as Yao Ming signed a 5-year, 75 million dollar deal with the Houston Rockets. But this isn’t about Mitch Kupchak at all. Yao Ming is one of the top centers in basketball(mainly a reflection of the declining quality of centers in the NBA), and is now paid like one. Just by looking at a list of NBA salaries, Yao Ming’s annual average salary of 15 million would rank 4th next season, right behind Kevin Garnett. Is Yao Ming anywhere near as good as Kevin Garnett? The answer right now is no, but to be fair, they do play different positions.

Despite his lack of game-changing skill, the Rockets had to lock up Yao Ming to a large deal. If he had hit the open market, someone would have paid him more. Why pay this much money to someone who didn’t even average a double double last season? There are a variety of factors:

So, essentially, despite the fact that he is not and may never be an inside force like Shaq or the Alonzo Mourning of old, Yao Ming is still a very good center, and above all, is important to the Rockets franchise. He will be a cornerstone of this team for years to come, and will be a perennial all-star in the West.

Nowitzki Goes Nowhere

Five time NBA All-Star, six-time All-NBA member and the only player in NBA history to register 150 three-point field goals and 100 blocks in a season.

All of this and the poor guy is barely recognized in his home land of Germany, because some soccer player is king of the public.

Dirk Nowitzki was the first Dallas Mavericks player to be named to an All-NBA team in 2000-01. He is also the first Maverick to ever be selected to an All-NBA First Team while putting up career numbers in 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Despite all of these accomplishments in the U.S. and just recently being named Europe’s Player of the Year, Nowitzki still plays second fiddle to soccer player Michael Ballack in Germany.

That’s not to say Nowitzki is complaining, however, as he is considered a superstar in Dallas and for Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Nowitzki’s style of play has been compared to Boston Celtic great Larry Bird. He is obviously considered a big man at 7’0”, who can play a physical game down low in the paint. But he also has the shooting range that could nail a 3-pointer from behind the arc, making him multi threat every time he steps onto the court.

Started Wearing Lakers Jerseys Pau Gasol

Pau Gasol, who turned 28 this July, was born in Barcelona Spain. Paul is a 7'0 forward/center for the Los Angeles Lakers. As a youngster growing up in Spain, Pau played basketball with his two brothers, Marc and Adria. Marc is also a professional basketball player. In High School Pau played with his team called "Llor", and after that signed with C.B. Cornella. By the age of 16, Pau was playing for the Barcelona Junior National Team. He played in Europe from 1997-199, where his final season he averaged over 11 points and 5 rebounds playing in just 24 minutes a game.

Pau entered the 2001 NBA draft, and was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks, who immediately traded his rights to Memphis, for Shareef Abdur-Rahim. As a Grizzles star for seven seasons, he still today holds the franchise record for games played, minutes played, field goals made- and attempted, free throws made and attempted. He also leads in offensive-defensive- and total rebounds, blocked shots, turnovers and points. Pretty much every stat in the Grizzles record book belongs to Gasol.This past February Gasol was given one of the Lakers Jerseys, in a trade the Lakers Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, Marc Gasol and first round picks in 2008 and 2010. Pau decided to continue to wear his #16 jersey with the Lakers. He has worn that number his entire professional career. In his first start with the Lakers Gasol poured in 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Gasol played a month with the Lakers before rolling his ankle causing him to miss nearly a month of action. When Gasol returned, he played the last few games before starting the playoffs with the Lakers. Gasol was able to win his first career playoff game, and also advance to the NBA Finals- falling to the Boston Celtics.