Yao Ming is the National Basketball Association's No. 1 draft pick for 2002! Yao has said that he's looking forward to playing with the best in the world — even if he has to adjust to American food along the way. Yao has been chosen to play for the Houston Rockets. He is the first foreign-born player, who hasn't played American College Ball, to be picked as No. 1. It was early Thursday morning in Beijing when Yao got up to watch the live draft with his family. Later that day, he shot free throws and played in a brief practice game. When the game was over, he was surrounded by reporters and looked a little shy in front of all the cameras. He said he didn't much like being photographed, and answered questions in brief: "How do you feel now?" "It's a big day for me." "Do you like Western food?" "So-so." "Are you worried about all the pressure?" "I already feel it." 7-foot-5 Yao's quick moves and eye for the ball are rare to a player so tall. However, he needs to improve his upper body strength and is working on this at present. Yao said that practice is the best form of preparation. "American basketball has its own culture," he said, "I hope I can adjust to it quickly." Chinese national coach, Wang Fei, said that Yao should have no problems. "I think Yao will be a quick learner. He has the right attitude towards the sport and he is very clever." Funnily enough, the Chinese were so excited about the World Cup that they hardly picked up on the news about Yao on Thursday. Yet in Yao's hometown of Shanghai, people were a bit more aware. One of Yao's friends said that Yao's leaving for the United States would be a loss for Chinese fans. "But it is good for Yao's own future. In the long term, his going will also advance the development of basketball in China." Perhaps his success will encourage other young players to practice harder in order to realize their own dreams. Yao will be the third Chinese ever to play in the NBA after Wang and Bateer. The Chinese newspapers have named them the "Walking Great Wall". Bateer said that Yao might be surprised at first by American culture, language and food. When asked what advice would he give Yao, he answered, "Play your hardest — that's the best advice I can give him."