The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) announced on Friday that Yao Ming will not be present at the NBA Draft in New York on Wednesday, according to a report from the Xinhua News agency.
Said the press release from the CBA:
Yao is training with the national side in preparation for a four-squad tournament later this month which features Yugoslavia, Italy, Australia and China and the World Men's Basketball Championship in Autumn and the Asian Games in October.
We have decided that he not go to the United States to attend the Draft after discussions with the national team.
Whether Yao be present at the Draft or not, it will not affect his future in the NBA.
It would have been nice if the big guy could have attended the draft. Which begs the question: Has the #1 pick in the NBA draft ever not been present?
