Lin may change face of Chinese basketball - Yao

SHANGHAI - Chinese basketball icon Yao Ming has been taken aback by Jeremy Lin's rise at the New York Knicks and thinks his style and size could make China's state sports system rethink how it selects and grooms its athletes.

Yao, who opened up the world's most populous country to the NBA, retired from the game last year. In 2002, the 2.30-meter former Houston Rockets center was the first international player to be the top pick in the NBA draft and was an eight-time All-Star.

Chinese-American Lin has taken the NBA by storm with a series of dynamic displays at point guard for the Knicks. His fast-paced, high-scoring, playmaking performances could hardly be more different from the towering Yao's plodding, robust style.