Stoudemire was being completely shut down by Su Xi on the court. The sophomore team's head coach, Michael Cooper, and assistant coach, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, both thought of Yao Ming at the same time. If Yao Ming were willing to play, his absolute height and incredible ability to draw defenders in the paint could definitely unleash Stoudemire's offensive firepower.
But when Michael Cooper and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar went to talk to this gentle, good-natured man about it, Yao Ming just smiled. At some point, he had already taken the wrap off his ankle and put on slippers. He said politely, "Sorry, coaches. My ankle isn't feeling right today. I can't play."
Yao Ming's personality was different from Su Xi's. Su Xi was all about meeting force with force, an eye for an eye.
