If Yao Ming's legions of fans in Hong Kong and the rest of China want a glimpse of their hero's possible future they need look no further than the NBA Finals, which start tomorrow (HK time).
That's because in one respect Yao bears a strong resemblance to Tim Duncan, according to Luke Walton, a second-year forward with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Walton is in town this week along with Orlando Magic rookie sensation Dwight Howard and a sextet of Houston Rockets Power Dancers.
Walton was addressing the concern that Yao lacks the 'nasty edge' that makes a champion. 'Yao is developing into one of the dominant forces in the game,' said Walton, son of Hall of Famer and two-time NBA champion Bill Walton. 'And a few times he has shown the killer instinct quite openly. But the thing is, you don't have to show that instinct in a blatant way. It could be lurking beneath the surface.
'Look at Tim Duncan. He appears to have no expression but he'll do things to you that will make you want to quit basketball. I think Yao will develop a similar game - the cool exterior and the lethal action. He is definitely capable of winning a championship with Houston.'
The quiet, no-frills effectiveness of forward Duncan has led San Antonio to a finals berth against reigning champions the Detroit Pistons.
Howard, 19, and coming off rave reviews of his rookie year in Orlando, backed up Walton's assessment. 'Yao is a great player,' said the quietly spoken Howard, who was the number-one draft pick of 2004 straight from high school. 'I remember in one game against Dallas he scored, I think, 14 points in one period and I was thinking, 'Yes, Yao, if you do that all the time there's no stopping you'.'
