If it were some draft year, Yao Ming would not be the top scorer.

On July 4, at the 2002 NBA Draft, Yao Ming was selected by the Houston Rockets as the No. 1 pick, becoming the first foreign No. 1 pick in NBA history. However, looking back at the draft situation of that year, 2002 was indeed considered a "small year of draft", and the overall quality was significantly different from the "small year of draft" such as 1984, 1996, 2003. If Yao Ming is placed in those draft years, will he still maintain his No. 1 pick? This issue is worth discussing in depth.

First, let's take a look at the overall situation of the 2002 draft. Among this rookie, except for Yao Ming, only a few players such as Amare Stoudemire and Carlos Boozer have grown to the All-Star level. In contrast, the 1984 draft was born with legends such as Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley; in 1996, superstars such as Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Steve Nash; in 2003, future Hall of Fame members such as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony emerged. In these star-studded years, Yao Ming has indeed faced huge challenges in competing for the No. 1 pick.

From the perspective of technical characteristics, Yao Ming has a height of 2.26 meters and excellent low-post skills. He has a soft shooting touch and a top free throw shooting percentage among inside players. He has a high IQ for basketball and a strong team sense, and is a model of traditional centers. However, his movement speed is relatively slow, and physical fitness and injury issues also limit the height of his career. In comparison with other historical top scorers, these shortcomings may be magnified.

Take the 1984 draft as an example. At that time, the Rockets held the No. 1 pick and finally chose Olajuwon instead of Jordan. As a center forward, Olajuwon has better physical fitness and athletic ability than Yao Ming, and his defensive end is even top in history. Even considering Yao Ming's Chinese market value, the Rockets are unlikely to give up on "Da Dream" and choose Yao Ming. The situation was similar in 1996. As a point guard with explosive scoring ability, Iverson's talent and popularity are hard to ignore. James was hailed as the "Son of Chosen" in 2003, and any team will choose this future league appearance without hesitation.

However, Yao Ming still has the possibility of entering the top three picks in some draft year. His technical characteristics are of great value in specific eras, especially in the late 1990s to the early 2000s when the inside offense and defense were emphasized. Although the quality of the 2001 draft was high, the No. 1 pick Kwame Brown finally proved to be a "parallel" product, and Yao Ming could completely replace it. Although Dwight Howard had excellent physical fitness in 2004, his skills were rough, and some teams may prefer Yao Ming, who had mature skills.

It is worth noting that Yao Ming’s commercial value cannot be ignored. As a symbol of Chinese basketball, behind it is the huge Asian market. In the NBA's globalization strategy, this value sometimes goes beyond pure competitive considerations. In 2002, the Rockets chose Yao Ming not only because of his strength, but also because of his potential to open up the Chinese market. Even in the year of the draft, if a team attaches great importance to commercial development, Yao Ming may still win a high ranking, but it is very difficult to become the No. 1 pick.

Judging from career achievements, Yao Ming was selected as the All-Star 8 times and entered the Best Team of the Year 5 times, but he only played for 9 seasons due to injury, and his peak period was relatively short. In contrast, many top picks in the draft year have a longer peak period and a higher historical status. This comparison also confirms that in a stronger competitive year, it may be difficult for Yao Ming to stand out and become the No. 1 pick.

Interestingly, draft picks are not the only factor that determines player achievement. In 1996, Kobe was selected only at the 13th pick, but grew into a historical superstar; 2002 second-round pick Carlos Boozer also played a career that exceeded expectations. This shows that there is uncertainty in the evaluation of the draft. Even if Yao Ming loses the No. 1 pick in some major years, he still may prove himself through acquired efforts.

Overall, Yao Ming's becoming the No. 1 pick in 2002 is a perfect combination of strength and opportunity. His technical characteristics and Chinese market value are highly consistent with the draft environment of that year. If you are in the draft year like 1984, 1996 or 2003, facing geniuses like Jordan, Iverson, and James, Yao Ming is likely to miss the No. 1 pick, but he is still expected to be selected in the previous five picks. This assumption not only demonstrates the complexity of the NBA draft, but also allows us to more objectively evaluate Yao Ming's historical status - he is an excellent All-Star center, but still has a gap from the top inside player in history. In any case, as a pioneer of Asian basketball, Yao Ming's success in the NBA has created his own legend.