4月11日晚，中國男籃球員易建聯將赴美國，開始NBA選秀前為期兩個月的特訓，特訓的結果將直接影響他進軍NBA的步伐。與5年前的姚明一樣，易建聯承載著中國球迷的希望。在CBA，他是名符其實的籃球明星，曾為廣東宏遠隊三次奪得CBA總冠軍。如今，奔赴美國的易建聯能否成為中國籃球在NBA的又一面旗幟？我們翹首以待。

China's basketball star Yi Jianliansigns autographsfor basketball fans during the send-off to him in Shenzhen of South China's Guangdong Province April 11, 2007. The three-time CBA title winner will leave for the United States tonight to attend a pre-Draft training camp in Los Angeles. [Xinhua]

Yi Jianlian's domestic basketball career ended in the disappointment of a playoff finals defeat, but China's hottest sporting talent is ready to put the past behind him and begin his NBA career.

The 19-year-old sensation, who won three champions rings in China, will leave for the United States tonight to attend apre-Draft trainingcampin Los Angeles. With a high draft position all but certain he appears set to follow in the giant footsteps of Houston Rockets' All-star Center Yao Ming.

"I want to walk my own road," said Yi, a 19-year-old, 2.13 meter power forward who idolized Michael Jordan as a child. "The NBA is my dream place, so this is obviously the biggest challenge of my life. But I am not going to be the next Yao Ming or Wang Zhizhi. I want to do it my way."

His size attracted the attention ofscoutsat a training camp in the US in 2002, and since then he has impressed with his dunking ability and shooting touch.

Eight NBA general managers and executives came to China to watch Yi's Guangdong Tigers take on Bayi Rockets in last month's CBA finals, and the NBA TV provided live coverage.

Winning the league title has become an auspicious way to say goodbye to the domestic league, so the 4-1 playoff loss was a blow for Yi.

"This was the biggest disappointment in my life as I failed to make my CBA memory perfect," Yi was quoted as saying in Basketball Pioneers newspaper. "I want to use my NBA career as compensation for the loss. I really hope to shrug it off as soon as possible."

Despite the Bayi defeat, Yi is still highly rated by US experts. Leading draft website NBADraft.net predicts the teenager will be picked in 11th position in a strong draft, while ESPN lists him in 6th.

The pressure on Yi will be intense, as media have already begun comparing him to superstars including Dallas Maverick's Dirk Nowitzki and Toronto's Chris Bosh due to the combination of his size, mobility and scoring.

But Yi is not letting the hype faze him.

"It doesn't really matter to me No 1 pick or last pick, the next Dirk or Kevin Garnett," he said. "I know I've got to fight from zero and win my place on my team. What I want most is more minutes from my coach, not being a first round pick. I will need some time to get used to the intensity of games in the NBA."

（Chinadaily） 

Vocabulary:    

sign autographs:簽名

pre-Draft training camp: 選秀前訓練營

scout: 球探

（英語點津陳蓓編輯）