Yao, who arrived yesterday in Taiwan for the purpose of “cross-strait basketball exchange” as dubbed by organizers, spoke to the children candidly during a question-and-answer session.

The 2.29-meter (7’6”) center of the Houston Rockets said that his biggest fear is no one talking to him.

“My biggest fear is nobody talking to me, so I am not afraid of the children here who are asking me questions,” said Yao.

Yao later participated in a three-on-three friendly basketball game pitting him and two aboriginal children against three current and former professional players from Taiwan.

The former NBA top draft pick won the game on a slam dunk to the applause of the crowd.

Yao said during a press conference after the event that the increasing number of international players in the NBA have made an impact on the league.

“The international players have brought a wider variety of playing styles to the NBA,” said Yao. “The league has become more competitive as a result.”

Yao also divulged some of his thoughts on adjusting to the NBA as a Chinese player as advice for mainland China’s newest NBA addition, Yi Jianlian, who recently signed with the Milwaukee Bucks.

“Chinese people are more modest as they try to understand others,” said Yao. “I advise Yi to express his own opinions when he enters the NBA.”

Yao said that his inability to communicate with his coach or teammates had at one point led him on a wrong path in his NBA career.

On his language ability, Yao said that daily conversations with fellow teammates and the environment have led to an improvement in his English.

The former player in mainland China’s professional basketball league said that outside of basketball, swimming, walking, and listening to music are his favorite activities.

Yao said that although he does not know much about baseball, he has heard of Taiwan’s New York Yankees pitcher Wang Chien-ming.

“He is an outstanding player,” said Yao.

Yao will play in a friendly game this morning at National Taiwan University gymnasium as a member of a celebrity team featuring Taiwan’s “The Doctor” Cheng Chih-lung, Yao’s Shanghai Sharks teammate.

The celebrity team will face off against an all-star team from Taiwan’s professional basketball league, Super Basketball League.

People interested in attending the game should register online at http://www.bros.com.tw/yao, Chinese Taipei Basketball Association said.

CTBA said that 1,111 online registrants will be allowed into the gymnasium and 1,200 people will be allowed in at the door.

Yao averaged 25.0 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game during the 2007 NBA season, leading the Rockets to the first round of the NBA playoffs, where the team lost to the Utah Jazz in seven games.

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