Rockets C Yao hopes to train with Olajuwon this summer
HOUSTON (TICKER) —Houston Rockets superstar Yao Ming is hoping to work with the franchise’s former star center Hakeem Olajuwon during the offseason following his team’s first-round playoff exit last week.
Yao’s boyhood hero led the Rockets to back-to-back championships in 1994 and 1995 and averaged 27.8 points and 10.8 rebounds in his illustrious career.
The Nigerian-born Olajuwon was part of the Team USA squad which won the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and was selected as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history.
Olajuwon left the Rockets in 2001 to join the Toronto Raptors after 17 years.
“It would be a great chance for me if I can learn from him, one of the best centers in NBA history, and particularly a legend for the Rockets,” Yao told www.sohu.com. “I would love to. I’m working on it.”
The Rockets suffered a 103-99 loss to the Utah Jazz in Game Seven of their first-round series, despite Yao collecting 29 points and six rebounds in that contest. He averaged a career-high 25.1 points and 10.3 rebounds in the playoffs as the Rockets let a 2-0 lead slip away.
“I didn’t do my job,” Yao said. “I didn’t do a very good job of rebounding. I believe I can still make some more improvement on both ends, that’s what I am going to do in the summer.
“I’ll take the first month off and then get back to training and work on my skills. You have to put your passion into the summer workouts and prepare for next season. The only way to get through is, if you get your next chance, don’t let it pass.”
Yao will undergo minor surgery on a toe to prevent a troublesome toenail from growing back before returning to Beijing in June for a training camp with the Chinese national team.
“It hurts me a lot so it’s time to end it,” said Yao, who was sidelined for five weeks during this season with a similar injury. “It will take me three weeks to recover but it won’t hamper my training with the Chinese team.
“This summer is very important for the national side in its preparation for the Beijing Games. I cannot miss it.”
The 26-year-old Yao is set to play a series of warmup contests with China, including the team’s European Tour and the Stankovic Cup in Shanghai.
