How the Yao Ming Effect has panned out

When Chinese behemoth Yao Ming was taken No 1 in the 2002 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets, a nation rejoiced, history was created and a portal opened.

Ming, all 2.29 meters of him (or 7 feet, six inches in the old language), strode through that door and other Chinese were expected to follow him into the most popular foreign league in this country - not immediately, but steadily and surely.

Almost a decade and a half after the draft in which Yao became the first player from outside the US collegiate system to be taken No 1, there is not a single China-born player in the NBA.

Nada. Zilch. A big fat zero. Ling.

Yi Jianlian made the grade in 2007 and had six service-able years in the league with the Bucks, Nets, Wizards and Mavs before returning to the the Chinese Basketball Association's Guangdong Southern Tigers in 2012.

That made Yi one of only five Chinese players to ever lace 'em up in the big time. To put that in global perspective, five nations could comfortably field starting fives from the current NBA ranks (Canada has 12 players, France 11, Brazil nine, Australia seven and Spain six), and nine others nations have three or more to call upon.

What actually happened when Hall of Famer-in-waiting Yao kicked open that door in 2002 was that US players trickled and then flooded through the breach and into the CBA.

This current CBA season, now in playoff mode, has seen 44 hoopsters from the US represent 19 of the 20 teams in the league (the Bayi Rockets have a no-foreigners policy).

The China deal is a lucrative gig and offers great opportunities.

Two-time NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury, the poster child of the CBA and cornerstone of the high-flying Beijing Ducks, reinvented himself on these shores after a less-than-inspiring end to his NBA career.

Eight-time All-Star Tracy McGrady got to sample the delights of China during the 2012-13 season with the Qingdao Eagles. They finished last, but through no fault of T-Mac, who averaged 25 points, seven rebounds and five dimes a game.

Speedy Aaron Brooks (Southern Tigers) and sharpshooter J.R. Smith (Zhejiang Golden Bulls) chose to come here during the NBA lockout of 2011 and enhanced their stocks so much that they are now key role players for the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers, respectively.

Of course, there have been some major failures and misadventures as well. Former All-Star Kenyon Martin spent more time on the bench than a Supreme Court judge during his lackadaisical - and mercifully brief - stint with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in 2011-12.

The Americans, by and large, have enhanced the league greatly, but when the four best players on the floor most nights are foreigners, how much is that helping homegrown talent evolve and follow in Yao's huge footsteps?

So far, it seems like nada, zilch, a big fat zero, ling.

Pretty sure this was not what China expected when NBA commissioner David Stern handed Yao that Rockets cap all those years ago.

Contact the writer at tymglaser@chinadaily.com.cn