Yao Ming figures to be the dominant big man in Olympic basketball at the Athens Games, giving China a chance to crack the top seven for the first time with hopes of the medal podium by 2008 in Beijing.

The 7-foot-6 (2.26m) center, a groundbreaking first choice in the 2002 National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft, has become a powerful force on the court and off, his marketing-dream popularity leading to endorsement riches.

Yao is a humble superstar, lavishing praise on teammates while often finding flaws with his own efforts even on his mightiest of nights. His aggressiveness has improved after two seasons of dueling Shaquille O'Neal and other NBA foes.

Yao averaged 17.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.9 blocks a game last season, shooting 52.5 per cent. He was voted an NBA All-Star Game starter for the second year in a row and snapped a long playoff drought for the Rockets.

Nine months ago, Yao sat in front of his Houston locker and pondered what impact his NBA lessons could have in helping China's Olympic team, ultimately saying, "Basketball isn't something that can be changed by one person."

Yao's wisdom proved Confucian. Del Harris, an assistant coach with the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, became the first American to guide a Chinese national team. He brought NBA tactics, training styles and toughness to China's collective.

"We're going to have a muscled-up team that's going to be more physical than any Chinese team before," Harris said.

"Chinese teams of the past have been too soft. But by the time our team takes the court in the Olympics, they won't have to back off from anybody because they will be strong and fearless."

The techniques are already paying dividends. Teen big man Yi Jianlian has been impressive in US and Chinese workouts. Yao even said he thinks Yi will one day surpass him. Yi could follow Yao to the NBA next year. But first, Athens.

"He will definitely be playing with Yao," Harris said. "He is definitely going to play. He is an outstanding player."

Mengke Bateer, who has played on four NBA teams in the past three years, will also patrol the paint for China. But Yi gives opponents match-up trouble alongside Yao, provided both are able to handle defensive duties quickly.

"I think we can do pretty well in Athens," Harris said. "As long as Yao Ming can improve his conditioning and the other players can get better at playing with him, then I think that we will continue to improve."

China was 12th at the 2002 World Championships and 10th at the Sydney Olympics after a record eighth in 1996 in Atlanta.

This year's path is not a simple one. China's preliminary group includes reigning world champion Serbia and Montenegro, Spain, Argentina, Italy and New Zealand.

"It's going to be a very tough competition," Yao said. "We have to work hard because other teams are working hard."

(People's Daily August 4, 2004)