Sports/Olympics / Chinese Stars Abroad

Yao named candidates for sportsmanship award
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-04-05 09:32

WASHINGTON, April 4-- Yao Ming from China was named among the candidates for the NBA's Sportmanship Award.

yao mingYao, the three-time all-star of the Houston Rockets, is in the list of candidates includes Shaquille O'Neal of the Miami Heat, Elton Brand of the Los Angeles Clippers, Luol Deng of the Chicago Bulls, Jacque Vaughn of the New Jersey Nets and Russian Andrei Kirilenko of the Utah Jazz.

The annual award is given to the NBA players that best exemplifies sportsmanship on the court. The winner will be announced at the end of the season.

The 7-6 feet Yao, in is his best campaign in the NBA, averaged 22.7 points and 10.3 rebounds through the first 52 games this season.