NEW YORK, Oct 25 (Reuters) - France's Victor Wembanyama possesses a talent that defies comparison, retired great Yao Ming told Reuters, as the seven-foot four-inch (2.24-metre) rookie makes his highly anticipated National Basketball Association (NBA) regular-season debut on Wednesday.
"I never see a big guy like, you know, (who) can do such a thing like he does," said Yao, an eight-times NBA All-Star who stands two inches (five cms) taller than Wembanyama.
Yao spent his entire NBA career with the Houston Rockets and remains an iconic figure of Chinese sport after fuelling the popularity of the NBA in his home country.
The Hall of Famer was reluctant to offer advice to Frenchman Wembanyama, who enters the NBA at a time of unprecedented international participation in the league.
"He has his own expedition to go (on)," said Yao, who was travelling to New York as part of a some 30-person Chinese delegation this week.
Persons:
Victor Wembanyama, Yao Ming, LeBron James, Yao, Frenchman Wembanyama, I'm, Amy Tennery, Echo Wang, Clare Fallon
Organizations:
Reuters, Basketball Association, San Antonio Spurs, Texan, Dallas Mavericks, NBA, Houston Rockets, Famer, Thomson
Locations:
New York