Yao Ming thinks Yi Jianlian will be a better player than him some day.

For now, Yao still is the king of basketball in China.

Yao and Yi each had their share of highlights in the much-anticipated first matchup of the country's greatest player and its top rising star, and Yao's Houston Rockets beat Yi's Milwaukee Bucks 104-88 on Friday night.

Yao, the five-time All-Star, had 28 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. Yi, the 20-year-old rookie, had 19 points and nine rebounds.

"His talent is unbelievable," Yao said. "You ask me how good he can be? I can't say that. But I think he'll be better than me."

When asked why he thought Yi would surpass him in the future, Yao thought for a moment.

"I'm older," Yao said with a smile.