Asian presence won't diminish in NBA

Asian stars have a bright future in the world's top basketball league, a senior NBA official said Wednesday, despite the retirement of Yao Ming leaving only two of the continent's players active. Just two Asians -- Yao's fellow Chinese Yi Jianlian and Hamed Haddadi of Iran -- played in the 2011-2012 NBA season and none is among early entrants into the 2012 NBA draft due to be held on June 28. AFP