Yao Ming and Stoudemire are both the first-round show of NBA in 2002, and they are all inside players. Yao Ming is a pure center, and Stoudemire can be a center or a power forward. There are many chances for matchups on the court. Stoudemire went from being unconvinced to respecting Yao Ming. What was the process like?
Stoudemire dissatisfied with Yao Ming
Stoudemire disagrees with Yao Ming since the draft. In 2002, Yao Ming became the first player in NBA history without any American basketball background, and he was still an Asian player. When he was selected, the expressions of some players were intriguing. Many of them dissatisfied Yao Ming, and Stoudemire was one of them.
When Stoudemire participated in the NBA draft as a high school student, he was finally selected by the Suns with the ninth overall pick in the first round. He was also an inside player. He was wondering why Yao Ming won the No. 1 pick, and he was only No. 1 The ninth pick, so that every time he meets Yao Ming, he wants to prove that he is better than Yao Ming, and since the beginning of the rookie season, the two have had a deep bond.
In his rookie season, Stoudemire averaged 13.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1 assists and 1.06 blocks per game, shooting 47.2% from the field, and was twice elected Rookie of the Month. Yao Ming averaged 13.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.79 blocks per game. His field goal percentage was 49.8%. He was also named the Rookie of the Month twice.
The scoring averages of the two are the same. Stoudemire’s rebounding average is 0.6 higher than Yao Ming. Yao Ming’s assists, blocks and shooting percentage per game are higher than Stoudemire’s. Yao Ming has a lot of statistics. A small advantage, but in the end the league felt that Stoudemire led the Suns to the playoffs.Yao Ming did not do this, and finally awarded the best rookie award to Stoudemire, which gave Stoudemire more confidence to fight against Yao Ming.
Yao Ming broke out in silence
Although Stoudemire beat Yao Ming to win the title of best rookie, but Yao Ming smashed him for several blocks in popularity, and Yao Ming not only won the love of Chinese fans Many American fans also like this elegant and easy-going giant of the East. Stoudemire originally refused to accept Yao Ming. He was even more dissatisfied when he saw that Yao Ming was loved by the fans, so he provoked Yao Ming many times.
In a regular season in 2004, the Rockets played against the Suns at home. Stoudemire made a slam dunk against Yao Ming's defense. After that, he was not satisfied and even faced Yao Ming. Yelling, Yao Ming did not respond to him, but the Rockets boss Francis immediately stepped forward to block Stoudemire. He was a 1.91 meter tall player who bravely resisted the 2.08 meter Stoudemire, which made him deeply deeply affected. The favorite of Chinese fans.
Although Yao Ming did not respond to Stoudemire's provocation in words or actions, this does not mean that he has no temper. He knows that the best way to respond is to perform well. Yao Ming was 16 in that game. He made 11 shots, shot 69% from the field, scored a double-double of 29 points and 19 rebounds, and sent 1 assist and 6 blocks, of which 4 were given to Stoudemire. Under Yao Ming’s defense, Although Stoudemire scored 24 points and 15 rebounds, he only made 7 of 26 shots and made only 26.9% of his field goals, which is in stark contrast to Yao Ming's high efficiency.
Yao Ming wins respect with his outstanding performance
Yao Ming entered the NBA in the same year as Stoudemire, and their peak periods almost overlap.Both have the experience of beating each other and being blown by each other. Yao Ming once faced Stoudemire with a double 20 data of 27 points and 22 rebounds, while limiting Stoudemire’s shooting percentage to less than 40%. Stoudemire effectively scored 34 points with a 70% shooting rate, but he also allowed Stoudemire to score a double-double of 32 points and 12 rebounds on the head, and Stoudemire shot 55% from the field. In addition to blasting the opponent and being blasted by the opponent, the two sides also formed a situation of mutual explosion in several games.
Because Yao Ming has been injured since the fourth season, the two have played against each other in the West but they have played less frequently. They have played together 17 times. Yao Ming averaged 31.3 minutes per game. He averaged 18.4 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 2.4 blocks, and 2.4 turnovers, and his shooting percentage was 51.1%.
Stoudemire is averaging 35.6 minutes per game, averaging 19.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.5 blocks, 3.1 turnovers, and 44.3% shooting. In these 17 games, Yao Ming scored 9 wins and 7 losses, and Stoudemire scored 7 wins and 9 losses.
The comparison shows that although Yao Ming scored 0.7 points less than Stoudemire per game, his shooting percentage was nearly 7% higher than Stoudemire. His scoring efficiency was very high, and he averaged 2.4 blocks per game. It also allowed Stoudemire to average 3.1 turnovers per game, indicating that his defensive effect on Stoudemire is relatively good. In addition, he is better than Stoudemire in rebounds, assists and record per game. Overall, he is better than Stoudemire. This is why he was later respected by Stoudemire.
In fact, Stoudemire is also a microcosm of most Americans. After Yao Ming was elected as the champion, it was not applause and cheers that greeted him, but more questions. Many NBA players think like Stoudemire. To make Yao Ming embarrassed, Barkley once questioned that Yao Ming could not score 19 points.O'Neal also used harsh words to let Yao Ming know what the NBA is, and once had a teammate asked Yao Ming to help tie his shoes.
Facing these doubts, Yao Ming's response was: " welcomes you to be like this, don't others say it? The only way is to play the game ". Later, he did it. He asked Barkley to kiss his ass and win the respect of Stoudemire with his outstanding performance. He also made O'Neill and his arrogant brothers and brothers. It was really not easy for him to walk this way, and he became so. great.
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