Chinese basketball star Yao Ming has joined his national team-mates at their US training camp in Dallas in preparation for the Athens Olympics.

Yao Ming, the Houston Rockets' all-star center, joined 14 other team-mates on Monday, who had been in the area for a week.

He was immediately named deputy captain of the team.

The Chinese team will be in Dallas for three weeks until July 5th, training under Mavericks assistant coach and national team coach Del Harris.

The team's first exhibition game is on June 27th and it also will play three matches against the Mavericks summer league team before departing for home.

While training for the Olympics, Yao could not drag his eyes away from Thursday's NBA draft as a new dynamic duo in the West, Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, is a distinct possibility.

Reports say Orlando Magics and Houston Rockets are close to a deal sending McGrady to the Rockets for a package including Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley. (Photo Source: titansports.cn)

(CRI June 24, 2004)