China's biggest sports star Yao Ming has dismissed as "ridiculous" an Internet report linking him to an American actress who is nearly 28 inches (70 cm) shorter than him.

The 7ft-6in (2.26m) Houston Rockets centre, who is currently sidelined with a knee injury, was reported to have dated Nia Long, a film and television actress.

Yao told Titan sports newspaper's Web site that he had read the story on another Web site with his basketball star girlfriend, Ye Li, by his side.

"Isn't it too ridiculous?" he said. "I saw the news on Internet. The writer is so good at hoaxes. What's that? She's only 1.57m. I'm 2.26m. Does it sound reasonable?"

The report said Yao had first seen Long in the 1990s television series "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air", in which she played the love interest of Will Smith's lead character.

Long has also acted in comedy film series "Big Momma's House" as well as TV series "Soul Food" and "Judging Amy".

"I have never heard of the name of her movie," Yao said. "Were there so many foreign movies in China when I was a kid?"

Yao's long-term girlfriend Ye, a more suitable 6ft 2in (1.90m), is a centre for China's female basketball team.

"Ye Li is now living with him. Anybody who has commonsense will not believe such a rumour," Yao's spokesman told Titan.

中国体坛巨星姚明日前对网上一则有关他和美国某女星的荒唐绯闻一笑置之，这位女演员比他矮将近70厘米。 这位身高达2.26米的休斯敦火箭队中锋日前因膝伤而缺席比赛，但是却被爆与一位名叫尼娅·朗的影视演员约会。

据《体坛周报》网站消息，姚明在网上看到这则消息时，女友叶莉也在他身边。

姚明说："这也太离谱了吧？我在网上看到了这个消息。那哥们儿也太能编了。这都什么跟什么呀？而且也太矮了，才1米57，我是2米26。听着靠谱吗？"（注：姚明原话）

该“绯闻”称，姚明在上世纪90年代的电视剧《新鲜王子妙事多》中就认识了尼娅·朗，尼娅·朗在剧中扮演威尔·史密斯所主演角色的恋人。

尼娅·朗所饰演的影视作品还包括喜剧《卧底肥妈》、电视剧《精神食粮》和《法外柔情》。

姚明说：“我连这些电视剧的名字都没听说过。在我小的时候，中国有这么多外国电影吗？”

姚明和女友叶莉已相恋多年。叶莉身高1.9米，是中国女篮的一名中锋。

姚明的发言人向《体坛周报》透露，叶莉现在和姚明住在一起。有点常识的人都不会相信这是真的。