Yi's NBA career is only four games old, but he has already impressed his teammates, coaches and opposing players. Yi ranks as the team's fourth-leading scorer at 9.8 points per game, and he is averaging 26 minutes in his starting role.

Yi and Yao are teammates on the front line with the Chinese national team and will be key figures in the Beijing Olympics next summer.

"This one is a little more built up," Bucks assistant coach Jarinn Akana, who was with the Nuggets during the first all-Chinese game, told JSOnline.

"Yao has established himself, and Yi was a top pick (sixth overall) in the draft. For me, I'm happy for China, to tell you the truth."

Alongside the prevalent fan parties, the game will air on 16 television stations, including the government network CCTV, as well as two webcasts on NBA.com and Sohu.com.

Basketball is getting to be a big business in China as the NBA has deals with 51 TV stations in the country. In addition, the NBA has marketing deals with 20 different companies.

Millions of Chinese watch NBA games, and 30% of the traffic to NBA.com comes from China.

"Six years ago, people saw Dodger (Wang) and Bateer, and now they get to see these next two guys. Who knows what is going to happen in the future?" added Akana.

Not for China

The Rockets drafted Yao with the top overall pick in 2002. His first matchup with Shaquille O'Neal drew more than 200 million viewers back home.

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