Sorry Shaq. Too bad, Tim Duncan. The most dominating big man in the National Basketball Association these days is a 7-foot-6 Chinese giant who puts the Ming in overwhelming. 

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Yao Ming has spent the past four years learning and improving against elite competition, enabling the 26-year-old centre for the Houston Rockets to evolve into a formidable force that can seize command of a game almost at will.
   
"He's the most dominating centre in the league now," Golden State Warriors coach Don Nelson said. "He can pass. He has the offense and the defense. He has the whole package."
   
Six weeks into his fifth NBA season, Yao is averaging 25.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.0 blocked shots a game and has ignited the Rockets to a 14-6 mark, their best start in a decade and third-best in the league.
   
"We have got some strength. We have played together a lot better," Yao said. "I have been more aggressive."
   
Yao scored 38 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a 114-109 victory Saturday at Washington, the Rockets' eighth triumph in 10 games. Yao scored 23 points in the fourth quarter after back spasms sidelined star guard Tracy McGrady.
   
"That's what the big fellow can do," McGrady said. "He is comfortable coming in and taking over the team. He showed that he can do it in the second half of last season and Yao has improved his game this year."
   
Yao was an All-Star Game starter in his first four seasons but this year he is playing longer, better and more consistent in crucial moments and making far fewer fouls than in prior years, avoiding an early seat on the bench.
   
"He's not getting in foul trouble like he did in the past," raved Washington playmaker Gilbert Arenas said. "It's hard because the big fellow has gotten a lot smarter. He doesn't help you stop him."
   
The Rockets allow the fewest points in the NBA and keep foes to a league-low shooting percentage while setting the NBA pace in grabbing defensive rebounds and ranking second in total rebounds. Much of that success is because of Yao.
   
"Yao is playing better than ever. He's the reason we have started so good," Rockets guard Luther Head said. "Yao is being Yao and it's tough for anybody to keep up.
   
"We always try to go to him. Yao has got a lot more respect around the league. He just keeps going to the basket."
   
Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy, who has been fined a total of US$125,000 for arguing that Yao was being called for too many fouls, has seen Yao win more respect from NBA referees.
   
Yao's second foul on Saturday came with only four minutes to play and Van Gundy contends that Yao is unstoppable unless opponents foul him.
   
"He gets fouled and he's going to make his free throws. He can have bad nights but consistently he's going to score," Van Gundy said.
   
"Guarded legally, he's going to score."
   
Yao was named NBA Western Conference Player of the Month in November, the first Rocket to claim such an honor since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1995. Yao averaged 25.7 points and 10.1 rebounds and hit 54.4 per cent from the floor in the month.
   
"When they put single coverage on me, all I have to go is catch the ball and go. It's my job," Yao said. "I need to learn the skills I need. I've got to keep working to get better."
   
Yao has averaged more points every season in the NBA and now ranks 13th in the league in scoring. He overpowered Miami superstar center Shaquille O'Neal for 34 points and 14 rebounds in a 94-72 victory on November 12.
   
"This guy has got an arsenal that I haven't seen before," said Wizards coach Eddie Jordan. "He is equally dominating on either end."