The NBA has a first-mover competitive advantage in China, when China was going through its economic reform in the 1990s, the NBA was the first league to market there. They've spent nearly three decades and millions of dollars on establishing a market presence in China; to have that undermined by a tweet is a big issue for them.

Yao Ming

Categorized in : World

I'm just one of the 1.3 billion Chinese. by Yao Ming

I'm just one of the 1.3 billion Chinese.

billions chinese basketball

All of the Chinese people, the Asian people say, "Oh Yao Ming, you are all the Chinese, all of Asia's hopes." That's a lot of pressure. I'm just a basketball player.

basketball player people

I feel that the All-Star game is more like a party because its made up of a lot of elements. However the core of All-Star is still the 48 minute-game and all the fans will pay all attention to the showcase of the players excellent skills. The result of the game is not much of a concern.

party stars player

Endangered species are our friends. by Yao Ming

Endangered species are our friends.

species endangered-species basketball

I finished my high school. I think an educate is very, very impor... by Yao Ming

I finished my high school. I think an educate is very, very important.

basketball school thinking

I think I am upsetting the coach. by Yao Ming

I think I am upsetting the coach.

upset basketball thinking

When the buying stops, the killing can too. by Yao Ming

When the buying stops, the killing can too.

killing buying

I can see well enough on the 28-meter basketball court. by Yao Ming

I can see well enough on the 28-meter basketball court.

meter basketball enough

It will take time to adapt, but I think I can handle it. by Yao Ming

It will take time to adapt, but I think I can handle it.

take-time basketball thinking

One is taller. The other is shorter. by Yao Ming

One is taller. The other is shorter.

Others are improving very fast, and I'm not improving as fast, an... by Yao Ming

Others are improving very fast, and I'm not improving as fast, and that bothers me.

improving basketball bother

Putting our ecosystem in great peril is certainly not a part of C... by Yao Ming

Putting our ecosystem in great peril is certainly not a part of Chinese culture that I know.

chinese ecosystems culture

To miss one year is a long time. I've never been in this situation before, and I'm getting as much information as I can about my foot, to see what's the best for me and best for the Rockets.

basketball feet years

Hometown is like my quilts. Sometimes when you are in sweet dream... by Yao Ming

Hometown is like my quilts. Sometimes when you are in sweet dreams, you don't feel it's comfortable.

quilts dream sweet

If we buy ivory it makes all of us killers as well. by Yao Ming

If we buy ivory it makes all of us killers as well.

ivory killers wells

I only want to play basketball, and play it well and be happy about it. But I realize that with being famous, comes a lot of demands.

demand basketball play

A good leader must be fair. by Yao Ming

A good leader must be fair.

good-leader basketball leader

Moving to the US was quite a transition for me, to say the least! There were, and still are so many new things to get used to: the language, food, culture, even the style of basketball is different here!

food-culture basketball moving

It's always nice to start the season with a win. by Yao Ming

It's always nice to start the season with a win.

nice basketball winning

Be a journalist. I can't get away from you guys, then I just ming... by Yao Ming

Be a journalist. I can't get away from you guys, then I just mingle with you guys.

get-away away-from-you guy