Ming Dynasty

The NBA is struggling to embrace the greatness of Yao Ming.

Yao, the 7-foot-6 Chinese center, is averaging 26.4 points and 10.4 rebounds for the Houston Rockets. He is one of only six players averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds this season.

Last week, Yao dominated Shaquille O’Neal in a win over the Miami Heat, totaling 34 points and 14 rebounds to O’Neal’s 15 and 10.

O’Neal, the best center of the last 10 years, was unimpressed, telling reporters: “He’s pretty much the same, just big, 7-6. He’s just doing what he’s supposed to do.”

Four days later, Yao dominated four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace, totaling 20 points and 12 rebounds to Wallace’s one and five.

Before that game, TNT analyst Charles Barkley said: “Before we give him the mantle as the best center in the NBA, let’s relax a little bit.”

Yao Ming is the best center in the NBA.

The 26-year-old is following a similar career path to Patrick Ewing, only Yao doesn’t have to play against Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson or Brad Daugherty.

It’s hard to make a case for Yao’s competition as the league’s best center, mostly because their accomplishments are in the past.

O’Neal, 34, is averaging 14.0 points and 7.5 rebounds a game. He also is out four to six weeks after having surgery on his left knee Sunday.

Wallace, 32, is averaging 5.5 points, 9.7 rebounds. He signed a four-year, $60 million contract with the Chicago Bulls before the season. Wallace will be 35 years old during the last season of the deal.

International players like Yao, Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash are derided for their lack of defensive capabilities, but Wallace has always escaped the same criticism on offense, even though his weakness is more egregious.

Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic is Yao’s closest competitor. Howard, who turns 21 next month, is averaging 15.5 points and 13.2 rebounds. He is a gifted player, maybe the most natural rebounder since Moses Malone, but he can’t score like Yao.

Scoring is often easy for Yao, who shoots 52 percent from the field and 86 percent from the line. He might be the best shooting center of all time.

At some point, his dominance will be inescapable, even for O’Neal and Barkley.

One billion Chinese fans can’t be wrong.