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Tiezhu with the ball
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Tiezhu was perhaps the most dominant player in Asia during the mid-1970’s to mid-80’s before heart disease forced his retirement. Yao Ming in particular commented that he looked up to Mu Tiezhu on the same level as he did Wilt Chamberlain. To say that Tiezhu was not responsible for China's steady development and popularity in basketball during his time would be nonsense. Even after his playing days Tiezhu spent time with various Chinese national teams teaching fundamentals to numerous players. To watch Yao Ming play is in some regards like watching Tiezhu. Although clearly more athletic than Tiezhu, Ming's playing style borders on the same level. Similarities include the unique ability to handle the ball, great shooting ability, and a low key demeanor, which all conjure up memories of Mu Tiezhu.
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Tiezhu in Action
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While he will not go down as the China's all-time best ball player, Tiezhu is easily on the list of top 10 Chinese greats that also includes NBA draftees. His main rival at the time was 7-foot-9 NBA draftee Yasutaka Okayama, who observers say was often outplayed by Tiezhu. This isn’t surprising when you look at the five Asian basketball championships that the Chinese National Team obtained with Mu Tiezhu as the focal point of their offense.
Heading into the 1970’s China was still a very closed off society until 1972 when Richard Nixon traveled to meet People’s Republic of China leader Mao Zedong, the 1st U.S. president to do so. With this in mind, it obviously would have been difficult for an NBA team to obtain information on any Chinese players unless they played in the Olympics. In 1970 the Atlanta Hawks drafted Dino Meneghin and Manuel Raga, who were playing in Italy at the time. While it would've been revolutionary, Atlanta failed to sign them, so how much more challenging would it be to engage in dealings with a communist China? The political red tape and culture shock would have made it next to impossible.
Tiezhu was a self confessed smoker and drinker whose gigantism would have required extensive monitoring, so at first glance it's a long shot to consider him a 1st through 5th round selection. But when you take into account his height and the fact that he outplayed Okayama (who was drafted in the 8th round of the 1980 NBA draft), it's not such a stretch. In 1972 there were 18 rounds, so I believe a 7-8 giant would have be selected out of 198 possible picks that were taken that year.
The Draft Review remembers Mu Tiezhu, recognizing him as a Chinese basketball icon and honorable draftee.