Jordan: Yao Ming help draw Asian talent
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-05-21 13:18

Basketball great Michael Jordan said Friday that Chinese NBA star Yao Ming will help draw Asian basketball talent to the top US professional league.

Basketball legend Michael Jordan, seen here in 2003, is making a four-city tour of Asia this week, speaking with youth as well as dignitaries during basketball events and exhibitions. [AFP]

"I think Asia, it will continue to grow with the talent that's in the league now and the other players are going to want to do the things Yao Ming is doing,'' Jordan told reporters in Hong Kong. "I think it's going to be very positive.''

Jordan said the presence of Yao, a center for the Houston Rockets, and Wang Zhizhi, another Chinese center who plays for the Miami Heat, reflected basketball's growing popularity in Asia.

"Those guys have started to show that the game has started to expand toward Asia,'' Jordan said. "It helps the game of basketball to be able to globally be connected to so many different countries.''

Jordan is on an Asian tour to promote his sports apparel brand.

Jordan, who won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls, also said he hopes to buy a basketball team, but didn't specify which one.