Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports that Yao Ming received his first standing ovation as a Rocket on Sunday? by walking across the floor. The Rocket?s number one pick is finally in Houston.

"After waiting a long time," he said, "it's like opening a door and having a breath of fresh air."

Rocket?s guard Steve Francis could feel the enthusiasm. "It's a good thing," Francis said. "There is a buzz created around town. To keep it, we have to win. We have to play good basketball. But it is here now. The guy is real, real hungry to play basketball. He wants to compete. You always get first impressions of people. He looked like he wanted to play tonight. You can look in a person's eyes. He was real, real excited."

Ming sat on the bench for the Rocket?s 101-96 preseason win over the Magic on Sunday. With his physical still incomplete, Ming is not likely to participate in practices either today or Tuesday. The Rocket?s finish up their exhibition season on Wednesday and Thursday,  but there are no plans for Ming?s play as of yet.

"I think it's a day-to-day thing," coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "We'll see how he feels and how much we can get in. Physically, we have to see how he feels when he wakes up tomorrow. Nobody's ever done this before that I know of. It's not going to be easy. There are so many things that need to be learned. But there is just something about this man, that I feel he will adjust well."