Which player in the NBA is equivalent to?

Since officially resigning from the position of chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association on October 31, 2024, news about Yao Ming has appeared on the basketball website again.

Today, let's discuss a topic together.

What level is Yao Ming at the peak? Who is equivalent to in today's NBA?

Yao Ming's NBA peak data

2008-09 season, Yao Ming played 77 games, averaged 33.6 minutes per game, scored 19.7 points, 9.9 rebounds, 0.4 steals and 1.9 blocks, shooting percentage of 54.8% (4.4 of 13.4 shots), and free throw percentage of 86.6% (4.9 of 5.7 shots).

Individual Honor

The Second Team of the Best Team (the first team center is Dwight Howard)

All-Star Starter

Regular Season - 53 Wins, fifth in the West, eighth in the League, 25}

2008-09 season, the Rockets ranked fifth in the West (the Lakers 65 Wins, the Nuggets 54 Wins, and the Trail Blazers 54 Wins). In the league, the Rockets ranked eighth (the Cavaliers 66 Wins, the Celtics 62 Wins, and the Magic 59 Wins), with a record of 53, 29 Loss, and very competitive. In the 2024-25 NBA, it can rank third in the East and second in the West.

Team Results: Single-core leads the second round of the playoffs

Yao Ming played 77 games in the 2008-09 season (only missed 5 games, with an attendance rate of 93.9%). McGrady played only 35 games due to injury (in February 2009, after McGrady underwent minimally invasive surgery on her left knee, the Rockets management announced that he would end the remaining schedule of the season early in order to ensure his complete recovery. Therefore, McGrady was absent in the last 24 games of the regular season (from February 19 to the end of the season), McGrady played in the games, the Rockets 20 wins and 15 losses, and McGrady was absent in the game, Yao Ming, as the absolute core of the team, led the Rockets to a record of 28 wins and 19 losses, with a winning rate of about 59.6%. In the first round of the playoffs, the fourth-ranked Trail Blazers in the West met with the fifth-ranked Rockets in the West. Yao Ming showed his value as the core of the team in this series. He averaged 15.8 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game in 6 games. Yao Ming’s value is mainly reflected in four aspects.

1. The team's offensive strength is.

Yao Ming's back-to-body singles and mid-range jump shots are his killer weapons. In the game, he can always use his personal ability to break through defense and complete scores. In the first game of the series, Yao Ming made 9 of 9 shots and 6 free throws in 24 minutes of playing time, scoring 24 points efficiently, helping the team to get a good start. In the fourth game of the series, Yao Ming made 7 of 14 shots and scored 21 points, helping the team to gain a 3-1 lead and master the initiative to advance to the series.

2. Inside restraint force: Reduce the defensive pressure of outside players.

In order to limit Yao Ming, the Trail Blazers frequently use the "two or even three-man double-team" tactic, but Yao Ming effectively cracked the defense through turning, mid-range jump shot (the mid-range shooting percentage of the series exceeds 50%) and supporting the pass (distributed to Artest, Brooks, and Bathir in the open spaces on the outside), creating a large number of mobile phone opportunities for the Rockets' outside. In the series, the Rockets' three-point shooting percentage from the outside reached 37.8%, and Yao Ming's restraint was indelible.

3. Defensive pillars: rim protection and rebounding domination.

While the Trail Blazers have Oden (the league No. 1 inside at the time) and Aldridge (the All-Star forward who averaged 21 points per game), Yao Ming averaged 10.7 rebounds (3.2 of the frontcourt rebounds) and 1.2 blocks in the series, holding the Rockets’ inside penalty area.

4. Injury persistence: Resilience in fighting with injuries

It is worth mentioning that Yao Ming has been plagued by a "left ankle sprain" in this series (injured at the end of the regular season), but he still insists on playing in all 6 games, and played for more than 35 minutes in key games (such as G4 and G6), showing strong game resilience and becoming the spiritual leader of the Rockets locker room.

Yao Ming only won one round of series in his NBA career, and crossing the Trail Blazers was the pinnacle of Yao Ming's career.

In the second round of the NBA playoffs, the Rockets played against the Lakers led by Kobe. Yao Ming only played in the first three games of the series due to injury, and averaged 19.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 blocks per game, with a shooting percentage of 51.4%. In the first game of the

series, Yao Ming staged the return of the king, scoring 28 points and 10 rebounds in the whole game, and scored 8 points in the last 4 minutes and 54 seconds (6 free throws and 6 free throws), leading the team to win the game.

Yao Ming returned from an injury and made a mid-range shot, helping the Rockets expand their lead to 6 points.

Without Mai and Yao, the Rockets fought seven bloody games with the Lakers and finally lost the series 3-4.

Yao Ming has a stable peak data of 20+10. He is a first-class center in the league, with the second team of the best team, leading the team to break through the second round of the playoffs.

Who is the NBA today similar to Yao Ming’s status in the 2008-09 season?

The editor believes it is Joel Embiid.

Embied's first team in his career, and the second team in his four best teams. His data is gorgeous, but he has frequent injuries. His highest career playoff achievement is also the second round of the playoffs. The two have strong similarities.

Joel Embiid can be called contemporary Yao Ming, do you agree?

Finally, let us wish Yao Ming a happy 45th birthday!