Jump to content

Yao Ming

Page semi-protected
Listen to this article
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Ming Yao)
For the singer, see Yao Min.
In this Chinese name, the family name is Yao.

Yao Ming
Yao in 2014
6th President of the Chinese Basketball Association
Incumbent
Assumed office
February 23, 2017
Preceded byYu Zaiqing
Member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (12th)
In office
March 2013 – March 2018
ChairmanYu Zhengsheng
Personal details
Born (1980-09-12) September 12, 1980 (age 44)
Shanghai, China
Spouse
​
(m. 2007)​
Children1
OccupationBasketball player / administrator
Basketball career
Personal information
Listed height7 ft 6 in (2.29 m)
Listed weight310 lb (141 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2002: 1st round, 1st overall pick
Selected by the Houston Rockets
Playing career1997–2011
PositionCenter
Number11
Career history
1997–2002Shanghai Sharks
2002–2011Houston Rockets
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points9,247 (19.0 ppg)
Rebounds4,494 (9.2 rpg)
Blocks920 (1.9 bpg)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Basketball Hall of Fame
FIBA Hall of Fame
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  China
FIBA Asia Cup
Gold medal – first place 2001 Shanghai
Gold medal – first place 2003 Harbin
Gold medal – first place 2005 Doha
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 2002 Busan
East Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2001 Osaka
Yao Ming
Yao's name in Chinese characters
Chinese姚明
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinYáo Míng
Bopomofoㄧㄠˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ
Gwoyeu RomatzyhYau Ming
Wade–GilesYao2 Ming2
IPA[jǎʊ mǐŋ]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationYìuh Mìhng
Jyutpingjiu4 ming4
IPA[jiw˩ mɪŋ˩]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJIâu Bêng

Yao Ming (Chinese: 姚明; born September 12, 1980) is a Chinese basketball executive and former professional player. He played for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Yao was selected to start for the Western Conference in the NBA All-Star Game eight times, and was named to the All-NBA Team five times. During his final season, he was the tallest active player in the NBA, at 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 m).[1]

Yao, who was born in Shanghai, started playing for the Sharks as a teenager, and played on their senior team for five years in the CBA, winning a championship in his final year. After negotiating with the CBA and the Sharks to secure his release, Yao was selected by the Rockets as the first overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft. He reached the NBA playoffs four times, and the Rockets won the first-round series in the 2009 postseason, their first playoff series victory since 1997. In July 2011, Yao announced his retirement from professional basketball because of a series of foot and ankle injuries which forced him to miss 250 games in his last six seasons.[2] In eight seasons with the Rockets, Yao ranks sixth among franchise leaders in total points and total rebounds, and second in total blocks.[3]

Yao is one of China's best-known athletes internationally, with sponsorships with several major companies. His rookie year in the NBA was the subject of a documentary film, The Year of the Yao, and he co-wrote, along with NBA analyst Ric Bucher, an autobiography titled Yao: A Life in Two Worlds. Known in China as the "Yao Ming Phenomenon" and in the United States as the "Ming Dynasty", Yao's success in the NBA, and his popularity among fans, made him a symbol of a new China that was both more modern and more confident.[4] Yao is also an entrepreneur and owner of Yao Family Wines in Napa Valley, California.[5]

In April 2016, Yao was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, alongside Shaquille O'Neal and Allen Iverson, becoming the first Chinese national to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.[6][7] In February 2017, Yao was unanimously elected as chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association.[8] Yao had a storied career as a member of the Chinese national team.[9] With the national team, Yao won the FIBA Asia Cup in 2001, 2003, and 2005, winning MVP of the tournament all three times.[10] He also made the All-Tournament Team at the FIBA World Cup in 2002. Yao retired from the Chinese national team after the 2008 Beijing Olympics.[11][12]

Early life

Yao Ming was born on September 12, 1980, in Shanghai, China.[13] He is the only child of 6-foot-7-inch (2.01 m) Yao Zhiyuan and 6-foot-3-inch (1.91 m) Fang Fengdi,[14] both of whom were former professional basketball players.[15] At 11 pounds (5.0 kg), Yao weighed more than twice as much as the average Chinese newborn.[16] When Yao was nine years old, he began playing basketball and attended a junior sports school.[17] The following year, Yao measured 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m)[18] and was examined by sports doctors, who predicted he would grow to 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 m).[18]

Professional career

Shanghai Sharks (1997–2002)

Yao first tried out for the Shanghai Sharks' junior team of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) when he was 13 years old, and practiced ten hours a day for his acceptance.[19] After playing with the junior team for four years, Yao joined the Sharks' senior team, where he averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds a game in his rookie season. His next season was cut short when he broke his foot for the second time in his career, which Yao said decreased his jumping ability by four to six inches (10 to 15 cm).[20] The Sharks made the finals of the CBA in Yao's third season and again the next year, but lost both times to the Bayi Rockets. When Wang Zhizhi left the Bayi Rockets to become the first NBA player from China the following year, the Sharks finally won their first CBA championship. During the playoffs in his final year with Shanghai, Yao averaged 38.9 points and 20.2 rebounds a game, while shooting 76.6% from the field,[21] and made all 21 of his shots during one game in the finals.[22]

Houston Rockets (2002–2011)

Yao was pressured to enter the NBA draft in 1999 by Li Yaomin, the deputy general manager of the Shanghai Sharks.[16] Li also influenced Yao to sign a contract for Evergreen Sports Inc. to serve as his agent. The agreement entitled Evergreen to 33% of Yao's earnings,[16] but the contract was later determined to be invalid.[23]

As American attention on Yao grew, Chinese authorities also took interest. In 2002, the Chinese government released new regulations that would require him and other Chinese players to turn over half of any NBA earnings to the government and China's national basketball association, including endorsements as well as salaries.[24]

When Yao decided to enter the 2002 NBA draft, a group of advisers was formed that came to be known as "Team Yao". The team consisted of Yao's negotiator, Erik Zhang; his NBA agent, Bill Duffy; his Chinese agent, Lu Hao; University of Chicago economics professor John Huizinga;[25] and the vice president for marketing at BDA Sports Management, Bill Sanders.[26] Yao was widely predicted to be picked number one overall.[27][28][29] However, some teams were concerned about Yao's NBA eligibility because of uncertainty over whether the CBA would let Yao play in the United States.[30]

Shortly after Wang Zhizhi refused to return to China to play for the national team and was subsequently banned from playing for China,[31] the CBA stipulated that Yao would have to return to play for the national team.[32] They also said they would not let him go to the United States unless the Houston Rockets would take him first overall.[33] After assurances from Team Yao that the Rockets would draft Yao with their number one pick, the CBA gave permission on the morning of the draft for Yao to play in the U.S.[34] When the Rockets selected Yao with the first pick of the draft, he became the first international player ever to be selected first overall without having previously played U.S. college basketball.[35]

Beginning years (2002–2005)

Yao did not participate in the Rockets' pre-season training camp, instead playing for China in the 2002 FIBA World Championships.[36] Before the season, several commentators, including Bill Simmons and Dick Vitale, predicted that Yao would fail in the NBA,[37][38] and Charles Barkley said he would "kiss Kenny Smith's ass" if Yao scored more than 19 points in one of his rookie-season games.[39] Yao played his first NBA game against the Indiana Pacers, scoring no points and grabbing two rebounds,[40][41] and scored his first NBA basket against the Denver Nuggets.[42] In his first seven games, he averaged only 14 minutes and 4 points, but on November 17, he scored 20 points on a perfect 9-of-9 from the field and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line against the Lakers.[43] Barkley made good on his bet by kissing the buttock of a donkey purchased by Smith for the occasion (Smith's "ass").[39]

In Yao's first game in Miami on December 16, 2002, the Heat passed out 8,000 fortune cookies, an East Asian cultural stereotype.[44][45] Yao was not angry with the promotion because he was not familiar with American stereotypes of Chinese.[46] In an earlier interview in 2000, Yao said he had never seen a fortune cookie in China and guessed it must have been an American invention.[47]

Before Yao's first meeting with Shaquille O'Neal on January 17, 2003, O'Neal said, "Tell Yao Ming, ching chong-yang-wah-ah-soh", prompting accusations of racism.[46] O'Neal denied that his comments were racist, and said he was only joking.[48] Yao also said he believed O'Neal was joking, but he said a lot of Asians would not see the humor.[48][49] In the game, Yao scored the Rockets' first six points of the game and blocked O'Neal twice in the opening minutes as well as altering two other shots by O'Neal, all 4 of those attempts coming right at the rim, and made a game-sealing dunk with 10 seconds left in overtime.[50] Yao finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 blocks; O'Neal recorded 31 points, 13 rebounds, and 0 blocks.[51] O'Neal later expressed regret for the way he treated Yao early in his career.[52]

The NBA began offering All-Star ballots in three languages—English, Spanish and Chinese—for fan voting of the starters for the 2003 NBA All-Star Game.[53] Yao was voted to start for the West over O'Neal, who was coming off three consecutive NBA Finals MVP Awards.[54] Yao received nearly a quarter million more votes than O'Neal, and he became the first rookie to start in the All-Star Game since Grant Hill in 1995.[55]

Yao prepares to shoot a free throw with John Stockton in the background

Yao finished his rookie season averaging 13.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game,[56] and was second in the NBA Rookie of the Year Award voting to Amar'e Stoudemire,[57] and a unanimous pick for the NBA All-Rookie First Team selection.[58] He was also voted the Sporting News Rookie of the Year,[59] and won the Laureus Newcomer of the Year award.[60]

Yao (fourth from left) standing with the Sophomores team during the 2004 Rookie Challenge game.

Before the start of Yao's sophomore season, Rockets' head coach Rudy Tomjanovich resigned because of health issues,[61] and long-time New York Knicks head coach Jeff Van Gundy was brought in. After Van Gundy began focusing the offense on Yao,[62] Yao averaged career highs in points and rebounds for the season, and had a career-high 41 points and 7 assists in a triple-overtime win against the Atlanta Hawks in February 2004.[63] He was also voted to be the starting center for the Western Conference in the 2004 NBA All-Star Game for the second straight year.[64] Yao finished the season averaging 17.5 points and 9.0 rebounds a game.[56] The Rockets made the playoffs for the first time in Yao's career, claiming the seventh seed in the Western Conference. In the first round, however, the Los Angeles Lakers eliminated Houston in five games.[65] Yao averaged 15.0 points and 7.4 rebounds in his first playoff series.[56]

In the summer of 2004, the Rockets acquired Tracy McGrady from the Orlando Magic in a seven-player trade that also sent Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley to Orlando.[66] Although Yao said that Francis and Mobley had "helped [him] in every way [his] first two seasons", he added, "I'm excited about playing with Tracy McGrady. He can do some amazing things."[67] After the trade, it was predicted that the Rockets would be title contenders.[66][68] Both McGrady and Yao were voted to start in the 2005 NBA All-Star Game, and Yao broke the record previously held by Michael Jordan for most All-Star votes, with 2,558,278 total votes.[69] The Rockets won 51 games and finished fifth in the West, and made the playoffs for the second consecutive year, where they faced the Dallas Mavericks.[70] The Rockets won the first two games in Dallas, and Yao made 13 of 14 shots in the second game, the best shooting performance in the playoffs in Rockets history.[71] However, the Rockets lost four of their last five games and lost Game 7 by 40 points, the largest Game 7 deficit in NBA history.[72] Yao's final averages for the series were 21.4 points on 65% shooting and 7.7 rebounds.[56]

Career highs and injury-plagued seasons (2005–2011)

In his fifth season, Yao averaged a career-high 25 points per game.

After missing only two games out of 246 in his first three years of NBA play,[14] Yao endured an extended period on the inactive list in his fourth season after developing osteomyelitis in the big toe on his left foot, and surgery was performed on the toe on December 18, 2005.[73] Despite missing 21 games while recovering,[14] Yao again had the most fan votes to start the 2006 NBA All-Star Game.[74]

In 25 games after the All-Star break, Yao averaged 25.7 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 53.7% from the field and 87.8% at the free-throw line.[75] His final averages in 57 games were 22.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.[56] It was the first time that he ended the season with a so-called "20/10" average. However, Tracy McGrady played only 47 games in the season, missing time because of back spasms.[76] Yao and McGrady played only 31 games together,[77] and the Rockets did not make the playoffs, winning only 34 games.[78] With only four games left in the season, Yao suffered another injury in a game against the Utah Jazz on April 10, 2006, which left him with a broken bone in his left foot. The injury required six months of rest.[79]

Early into his fifth season, Yao was injured again, this time breaking his right knee on December 23, 2006, while attempting to block a shot.[80] Up to that point he had been averaging 26.8 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game, and had been mentioned as an MVP candidate.[81][82] Yao was unable to play in what would have been his fifth All-Star game;[83] he was medically cleared to play on March 4, 2007, after missing 32 games.[84]

Despite Yao's absence, the Rockets made the playoffs with the home court advantage against the Utah Jazz in the first round.[85] The Rockets won the first two games, but then lost four of five games[86] and were eliminated in Game 7 at home; Yao scored 29 points—15 in the fourth quarter.[87] Although he averaged 25.1 points and 10.3 rebounds for the series, Yao said afterwards "I didn't do my job".[88] At the end of the season, Yao was selected to the All-NBA Second Team for the first time in his career, after being selected to the All-NBA Third Team twice.[89]

On May 18, 2007, only weeks after the Rockets were eliminated from the playoffs, Jeff Van Gundy was dismissed as head coach.[90] Three days later, the Rockets signed former Sacramento Kings coach Rick Adelman,[91] who was thought to focus more on offense than the defensive-minded Van Gundy.[92][93]

Yao advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the only time in his career in 2009.
Yao playing against Gilbert Arenas

On November 9, 2007, Yao played against fellow Chinese NBA and Milwaukee Bucks player Yi Jianlian for the first time. The game, which the Rockets won 104–88, was broadcast on 19 networks in China, and was watched by over 200 million people in China alone, making it one of the most-watched NBA games in history.[94] In the 2008 NBA All-Star Game, Yao was once again voted to start at center for the Western Conference.[95] Before the All-Star weekend, the Rockets had won eight straight games, and after the break, they took their win streak to 12 games. On February 26, 2008, however, it was reported that Yao would miss the rest of the season with a stress fracture in his left foot. He missed the 2008 NBA playoffs, but he did not miss the 2008 Summer Olympics at Beijing, China in August.[96] After Yao's injury, the Rockets stretched their winning streak to 22 games, at the time the second-longest such streak in NBA history.[97] Yao underwent a successful operation on March 3, which placed screws in his foot to strengthen the bone, and recovery time was estimated at four months.[98] Yao's final averages in 55 games were 22.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks a game.[56]

The next season, Yao played 77 games, his first full season since the 2004–05 season, and averaged 19.7 points and 9.9 rebounds, while shooting 54.8% from the field, and a career-high 86.6% from the free throw line.[56] Despite McGrady suffering a season-ending injury in February,[99] the Rockets finished with 53 wins and the fifth seed in the Western Conference.[100] Facing the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round, Yao finished with 24 points on 9-of-9 shooting in the first game, and the Rockets won 108–81, in Portland.[101] The Rockets won all their games in Houston,[102] and advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 1997, and the first time in Yao's career.[103]

The Rockets faced the Lakers in the second round, and Yao scored 28 points, with 8 points in the final four minutes, to lead the Rockets to a 100–92 win in Los Angeles.[104] However, the Rockets lost their next two games,[105][106] and Yao was diagnosed with a sprained ankle after Game 3.[107] A follow-up test revealed a hairline fracture in his left foot, and he was ruled out for the remainder of the playoffs.[108] In reaction, Yao said the injury, which did not require surgery, was "better than last year".[109] However, follow-up analysis indicated that the injury could be career threatening.[110] The Yao-less Rockets went on to win Game 4 against the Lakers to even the series 2–2.[111] The Rockets eventually lost the series in seven games.

In July 2009, Yao discussed the injury with his doctors, and the Rockets applied for a disabled player exception, an exception to the NBA salary cap which grants the injured player's team money to sign a free agent.[112] The Rockets were granted the exception, and used approximately $5.7 million on free agent Trevor Ariza. After weeks of consulting, it was decided that Yao would undergo surgery in order to repair the broken bone in his left foot.[113] He did not play the entire 2009–10 season.[114]

For the 2010–11 season, the Rockets said they would limit Yao to 24 minutes a game, with no plan to play him on back-to-back nights. Their goal was to keep Yao healthy in the long term.[114] On December 16, 2010, it was announced that Yao had developed a stress fracture in his left ankle, related to an older injury, and would miss the rest of the season.[115] In January 2011, he was voted as the Western Conference starting center for the 2011 All-Star Game for the eighth time in nine seasons. Injured All-Stars are usually required to attend the All-Star functions and to be introduced at the game, but Yao was not in Los Angeles because of his rehabilitation schedule after his surgery.[116] Yao's contract with the Rockets expired at the end of the season, and he became a free agent.[117]

Retirement

On July 20, 2011, Yao announced his retirement from basketball in a press conference in Shanghai.[118][119] He cited injuries to his foot and ankle, including the third fracture to his left foot sustained near the end of 2010.[120] His retirement sparked over 1.2 million comments on the Chinese social-networking site Sina Weibo.[121] Reacting to Yao's retirement, NBA commissioner David Stern said Yao was a "bridge between Chinese and American fans" and that he had "a wonderful mixture of talent, dedication, humanitarian aspirations and a sense of humor."[120] Shaquille O'Neal said Yao "was very agile. He could play inside, he could play outside, and if he didn't have those injuries he could've been up there in the top five centers to ever play the game."[122]

Yao was nominated by a member of the Chinese media for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor to the game. He would have been eligible for induction as early as 2012, but Yao felt it was too soon and requested that the Hall of Fame delay consideration of the nomination. The Hall granted Yao's request, and said it was Yao's decision when the process would be restarted.[123]

On September 9, 2016, Yao was inducted into the Hall of Fame along with 4-time NBA champion Shaquille O'Neal and Allen Iverson.[124] Continuing with the honors, on February 3, 2017, Yao's Number 11 jersey was retired by the Houston Rockets.[125]

National team career

Yao was the leading scorer of the 2006 FIBA World Championship.

2000 and 2004 Olympics

Yao first played for China in the 2000 Summer Olympics, and he was dubbed, together with 7 ft (2.1 m) teammates Wang Zhizhi and Mengke Bateer, "the Walking Great Wall".[126] During the 2004 Athens Olympics, Yao carried the Chinese flag during the opening ceremony, which he said was a "long dream come true".[127] He then vowed to abstain from shaving his beard for half a year unless the Chinese national team made it into the quarter-finals of the 2004 Olympics.[128] After Yao scored 39 points in a win against New Zealand, China lost 58–83, 57–82, and 52–89 against Spain, Argentina and Italy respectively. In the final group game, however, a 67–66 win over the reigning 2002 FIBA World Champions Serbia and Montenegro moved them into the quarterfinals. Yao scored 27 points and had 13 rebounds, and he hit two free throws with 28 seconds left that proved to be the winning margin.[129] He averaged 20.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game while shooting 55.9% from the field.[130]

Asian Cup

Yao led the Chinese national team to three consecutive FIBA Asia Cup gold medals, winning the 2001 FIBA Asian Championship, the 2003 FIBA Asian Championship, and the 2005 FIBA Asian Championship. He was also named the MVP of all three tournaments.

2006 World Championship

Yao's injury at the end of the 2005–06 NBA season required a full six months of rest, threatening his participation in the 2006 FIBA World Championship.[131] However, he recovered before the start of the tournament, and in the last game of the preliminary round, he had 36 points and 10 rebounds in a win against Slovenia to lead China into the Round of 16.[132] In the first knockout round, however, China was defeated by eventual finalist Greece.[132] Yao's final averages were 25.3 points, the most in the tournament, and 9.0 rebounds a game, which was fourth overall.[133]

2008 Olympics

Yao against LeBron James at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing

After having surgery to repair his fractured foot, Yao stated if he could not play in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, "It would be the biggest loss in my career to right now."[134] He returned to play with the Chinese national team on July 17, 2008.[135] On August 6, Yao carried the Olympic flame into Tiananmen Square, as part of the Olympic torch relay.[136] He also carried the Chinese flag and led his country's delegation during the opening ceremony.[137] Yao scored the first basket of the game, a three-pointer, in China's opening 2008 Olympics Basketball Tournament game against the eventual gold medal-winning United States.[138]

"I was just really happy to make that shot", Yao said after the Americans' 101–70 victory. "It was the first score in our Olympic campaign here at home and I'll always remember it. It represents that we can keep our heads up in the face of really tough odds."[138]

Following an overtime defeat to Spain,[139] Yao scored 30 points in a win over Angola,[140] and 25 points in a three-point win against Germany,[141] which clinched China's place in the quarterfinals. However, China lost to Lithuania in the quarterfinals by 26 points,[142] eliminating them from the tournament. Yao's 19 points a game were the second-highest in the Olympics,[143] and his averages of 8.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game were third overall.[144][145]

Chinese Basketball Association

Yao served as chair of the Chinese Basketball Association from 2017 until his resignation in 2024 due to personal issues.[146]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

CBA statistics

Year Team GP RPG APG FG% FT% PPG
1997–98 Shanghai 21 8.3 1.3 .615 .485 10.0
1998–99 Shanghai 12 12.9 1.7 .585 .699 20.9
1999–00 Shanghai 33 14.5 1.7 .585 .683 21.2
2000–01 Shanghai 22 19.4 2.2 .679 .799 27.1
2001–02 Shanghai 24 19.0 1.9 .721 .759 32.4
Career 122 15.4 1.8 .651 .723 23.4

NBA statistics

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2002–03 Houston 82 72 29.0 .498 .500 .811 8.2 1.7 .4 1.8 13.5
2003–04 Houston 82 82 32.8 .522 .000 .809 9.0 1.5 .3 1.9 17.5
2004–05 Houston 80 80 30.6 .552 .000 .783 8.4 .8 .4 2.0 18.3
2005–06 Houston 57 57 34.2 .519 .000 .853 10.2 1.5 .5 1.6 22.3
2006–07 Houston 48 48 33.8 .516 .000 .862 9.4 2.0 .4 2.0 25.0
2007–08 Houston 55 55 37.2 .507 .000 .850 10.8 2.3 .5 2.0 22.0
2008–09 Houston 77 77 33.6 .548 1.000 .866 9.9 1.8 .4 1.9 19.7
2010–11 Houston 5 5 18.2 .486 .000 .938 5.4 .8 .0 1.6 10.2
Career 486 476 32.5 .524 .200 .833 9.2 1.6 .4 1.9 19.0
All-Star 6 6 17.0 .500 .000 .667 4.0 1.3 .2 .3 7.0

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2004 Houston 5 5 37.0 .456 .000 .765 7.4 1.8 .4 1.4 15.0
2005 Houston 7 7 31.4 .655 .000 .727 7.7 .7 .3 2.7 21.4
2007 Houston 7 7 37.1 .440 .000 .880 10.3 .9 .1 .7 25.1
2009 Houston 9 9 35.9 .545 .000 .902 10.9 1.0 .4 1.2 17.1
Career 28 28 35.3 .519 .000 .833 9.3 1.0 .3 1.5 19.8

Awards and achievements

  • Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Class of 2016
  • FIBA Hall of Fame: Class of 2023
  • 8× NBA All-Star: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
  • 5× All-NBA Team:
  • Second Team: 2007, 2009
  • Third Team: 2004, 2006, 2008

Personal life

After Yao announced that he would enter the 2002 NBA draft, he told one American journalist that he had been studying English for two years, and that he liked the movie Star Wars but disliked hip hop. He was sometimes accompanied during interviews in Shanghai by one of his parents, whose basketball careers were derailed by the 1966–76 Cultural Revolution, and who came to his Shanghai Sharks games on bicycles.[148]

Yao answers questions from reporters, October 2006

Yao met Chinese female basketball player Ye Li when he was 17 years old. Ye was not fond of Yao at first, but finally accepted him after he gave her the team pins he had collected during the 2000 Summer Olympics.[149] She is the only woman he has ever dated.[150] Their relationship became public when they appeared together during the 2004 Olympics closing ceremony.[149] On August 6, 2007, Yao and Ye married in a ceremony attended by close friends and family and closed to the media.[151] On May 21, 2010, the couple's daughter Yao Qinlei (whose English name is Amy) was born in Houston, Texas.[119][152][153]

In 2004, Yao co-wrote an autobiography with ESPN sportswriter Ric Bucher, entitled Yao: A Life in Two Worlds.[154] In the same year, he was also the subject of a documentary film, The Year of the Yao, which focuses on his NBA rookie year.[155] The film is narrated by his friend and interpreter, Colin Pine.[156] In 2005, former Newsweek writer Brook Larmer published a book entitled Operation Yao Ming, in which he said that Yao's parents were convinced to marry each other so that they would produce a dominant athlete, and that during Yao's childhood, he was given special treatment to help him become a great basketball player.[16] In a 2015 AMA post on Reddit, Yao stated that this was not true and that he started playing basketball for fun at age 9.[157] In 2009, Yao provided the voice for a character of a Chinese animated film, The Magic Aster, released on June 19.[158]

Yao enrolled at the Antai College of Economics & Management of Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2011.[159] He took a tailored degree program with mostly one-on-one lectures to avoid being a distraction on campus.[160] Yao completed his studies in July 2018, graduating with a degree in economics after 7 years of study.[161][162][163][164]

In 2016, Yao opened a winery called Yao Family Wines in Napa Valley, California, which serves Cabernet Sauvignon blends and "the kind of rich-but-balanced luxury reds he'd come to enjoy in Houston steakhouses."[165] American wine critic Robert M. Parker Jr. of The Wine Advocate gave Yao's wine a ranking of 96 points and wrote: "I am aware of all the arguments that major celebrities lending their names to wines is generally a formula for mediocrity, but... the two Cabernets are actually brilliant, and the reserve bottling ranks alongside just about anything made in Napa."[165]

Other activities

Commercial engagements

Yao (left) with United States Secretary of State John Kerry at the U.S.–China Strategic and Economic Dialogue in 2014

Yao is one of China's most recognizable athletes, along with Liu Xiang.[166] As of 2009, he had led Forbes' Chinese celebrities list in income and popularity for six straight years, earning US$51 million (CN¥357 million) in 2008.[167] A major part of his income comes from his sponsorship deals,[168] as he is under contract with several major companies to endorse their products. He was signed by Nike until the end of his rookie season. When Nike decided not to renew his contract, he signed with Reebok.[169] He also had a deal with Pepsi, and he successfully sued Coca-Cola in 2003 when they used his image on their bottles while promoting the national team.[170] He eventually signed with Coca-Cola for the 2008 Olympics.[168] His other deals include partnerships with Visa,[171] Apple,[172] Garmin,[173] and McDonald's.[174]

On July 16, 2009, Yao bought his former club team, the Shanghai Sharks, which were on the verge of not being able to play the next season of the Chinese Basketball Association because of financial troubles.[175]

Philanthropy

Yao has also participated in many charity events during his career, including the NBA's Basketball Without Borders program.[176] In the NBA's offseason in 2003, Yao hosted a telethon, which raised US$300,000 to help stop the spread of SARS.[177] In September 2007, he held an auction that raised US$965,000 (CN¥6.75 million),[178] and competed in a charity basketball match to raise money for underprivileged children in China. He was joined by fellow NBA stars Steve Nash, Carmelo Anthony, and Baron Davis, and Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan.[179] After the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, Yao donated $2 million to relief work and created the Yao Ming Foundation to help rebuild schools destroyed in the earthquake.[180][181]

Conservation work

Yao Ming in Beijing in 2016

Yao partnered with WildAid to appear in commercials and documentaries to educate citizens on the harmful effects of shark fin soup on shark species. From 2011 to 2018, consumption of shark fin soup dropped by 70% in China.[182] In August 2012, Yao started filming a documentary about the northern white rhinoceros.[183] He is also an ambassador for elephant conservation.[184] In 2014, he was also part of the documentary The End of the Wild about elephant conservation. Yao has filmed a number of public service announcements for elephant and rhino conservation for the "Say No" campaign with partners African Wildlife Foundation and WildAid.[185]

Politics

On March 3, 2013, Yao attended the First Session of the 12th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference as one of its 2,200 members.[186] He was a member of the CPPCC from 2013 to 2018. While he is involved in Chinese politics, he is not a member of the Chinese Communist Party, although he has been awarded the Proletarian Award by the party for his spreading of literacy and socialist ideologies.[187]

See also

References

  1. ^ "NBA.com Yao Ming Info Page". NBA. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013.
  2. ^ Passa, Dennis. "Chinese great Yao Ming retires from basketball". Yahoo! Sports. Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 30, 2011.
  3. ^ "Chinese star Houston Rockets' Yao Ming retires, ending basketball career". ESPN. July 14, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  4. ^ Pomfret, John (2016). The Beautiful Country and the Middle Kingdom: American and China, 1776 to the Present. New York: Picador. p. 582. ISBN 978-1-250-16063-8.
  5. ^ Rothbaum, Noah (May 26, 2021). "From the NBA to Napa: Talking Cabernet Wines with Yao Ming". The Daily Beast. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  6. ^ "Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2016 Announcement presented by Haggar Clothing Company". Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. April 4, 2016. Archived from the original on April 17, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  7. ^ "Basketball Legend Yao Ming to Speak at NYU Shanghai 8th Undergraduate Commencement". shanghai.nyu.edu. May 3, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  8. ^ "Former Houston Rockets star Yao Ming named president of Chinese Basketball Association". NBA.com. February 23, 2017. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  9. ^ Wells, Adam. "Video: Rockets Legend Yao Ming Inducted into FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2023". Bleacher Report. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  10. ^ "Asian Legends Series: Yao Ming". FIBA.basketball. September 2, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  11. ^ BLINEBURY, FRAN. "Yao, China come to quiet end with loss to Lithuania". Chron. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  12. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Yao Ming". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 4, 2016.
  13. ^ "Yao Ming". The Journal Times. May 22, 2005. p. 92.
  14. ^ a b c "NBA: Yao Ming Info Page". NBA. Archived from the original on April 19, 2007. Retrieved May 4, 2007.
  15. ^ Bucher, Ric; Ming, Yao (2004). Yao: A Life in Two Worlds. Miramax Books. pp. xviii. ISBN 978-1-4013-5214-1.
  16. ^ a b c d Larmer, Brook (November 3, 2005). Operation Yao Ming: The Chinese Sports Empire, American Big Business, and the Making of an NBA Superstar. Gotham Books. ISBN 1-59240-078-7.
  17. ^ Bucher, Ric; Ming, Yao (2004). Yao: A Life in Two Worlds. New York: Miramax Books. p. 29. ISBN 1-4013-5214-6.
  18. ^ a b Bucher, Ric; Ming, Yao (September 22, 2004). Yao: A Life in Two Worlds. Miamax. p. 25. ISBN 1-4013-5214-6.
  19. ^ Bucher, Ric; Ming, Yao (September 22, 2004). Yao: A Life in Two Worlds. Miamax. p. 31. ISBN 1-4013-5214-6.
  20. ^ Bucher, Ric; Ming, Yao (September 22, 2004). Yao: A Life in Two Worlds. Miamax. p. 50. ISBN 1-4013-5214-6.
  21. ^ "Player Profile Yao Ming". NBA. Retrieved February 9, 2009.
  22. ^ Beech, Hannah (April 28, 2003). "China's Incredible Hulk of the hard court becomes an NBA sensation". Time Magazine. Archived from the original on April 22, 2003. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  23. ^ Bucher, Ric; Ming, Yao (September 22, 2004). Yao: A Life in Two Worlds. Miamax. p. 68. ISBN 1-4013-5214-6.
  24. ^ Fackler, Martin (April 25, 2002). "Beijing Could Claim Half of Chinese Star's NBA Earnings". Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 28, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  25. ^ "John Huizinga Chicago Booth Faculty". ChicagoGSB.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2008.
  26. ^ "Introducing Team Yao". BusinessWeek. October 25, 2004. Archived from the original on October 25, 2004. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  27. ^ Ainge, Danny (2002). "Danny Ainge's Mock Draft". NBA. Retrieved March 13, 2008.
  28. ^ Katz, Andy (June 25, 2002). "Deals will likely shake up draft". ESPN. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  29. ^ Thomsen, Ian (June 19, 2002). "Let the picking begin". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on December 6, 2008. Retrieved March 13, 2008.
  30. ^ Katz, Andy (June 25, 2002). "2002 NBA Draft: ESPN's Takes". ESPN. Archived from the original on December 6, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  31. ^ "'Unpatriotic' star dumped from China team". CNN. August 27, 2002. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  32. ^ Bucher, Ric; Ming, Yao (September 22, 2004). Yao: A Life in Two Worlds. Miamax. p. 120. ISBN 1-4013-5214-6.
  33. ^ Bucher, Ric; Ming, Yao (September 22, 2004). Yao: A Life in Two Worlds. Miamax. p. 102. ISBN 1-4013-5214-6.
  34. ^ Bucher, Ric; Ming, Yao (September 22, 2004). Yao: A Life in Two Worlds. Miamax. p. 124. ISBN 1-4013-5214-6.
  35. ^ "Yao Ming Makes NBA History in 2002 Draft". china.org.cn. June 27, 2002. Retrieved March 14, 2008.
  36. ^ Lago, Joe (October 30, 2002). "Rockets make Yao Ming first overall pick". ESPN. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  37. ^ Simmons, Bill (June 27, 2002). "Dear Diary ... who are these". ESPN. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  38. ^ Vitale, Dick (May 22, 2002). "Yao Ming could be another LaRue Martin". ESPN. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  39. ^ a b Lago, Joe (November 20, 2002). "Smith scores against Charles with the kiss". ESPN. Archived from the original on January 7, 2007. Retrieved April 3, 2008.
  40. ^ "Pacers Bring Rockets Down to Earth". NBA. October 30, 2002. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  41. ^ "Yao Ming 2002–03 Game Log". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 20, 2009.
  42. ^ "Mobley, Francis take control in fourth quarter". ESPN. Associated Press. November 1, 2002. Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  43. ^ "Francis and Yao Wow Lakers in Clutch". NBA. November 17, 2002. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  44. ^ Leonard, David (June 22, 2003). "Yo, Yao! What does the "Ming Dynasty" tell us about race and transnational diplomacy in the NBA? (Culture)". ColorLines Magazine. Retrieved September 7, 2010. It's dubious that Yao's dunking and product promotions will provide Americans a meaningful introduction to China, especially because Yao's popularity and public persona is rooted in old-school stereotypes about Chinese culture and identity. For example, in honor of Yao's debut appearance in Miami, the American Airlines Arena passed out fortune cookies to all 8,000 fans in attendance.
  45. ^ Ballantini, Brett (March 1, 2003). "Shaquille O'Neil: the ugly American – From Courtside". Basketball Digest. pp. 6–7. For Yao's first game in Miami on December 16, the Heat "honored" Yao by passing out 8,000 fortune Cookies—the quintessential Asian stereotype—to spectators
  46. ^ a b Tang, Irwin (January 3, 2003). "APA Community Should Tell Shaquille O'Neal to 'Come down to Chinatown". AsianWeek. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2010. Yao found the promotion amusing but pointed out that fortune cookies have nothing to do with him. He said that he was not angry because he was not familiar with American stereotypes of Chinese.
  47. ^ Fussman, Cal (December 25, 2000). "Next Athlete: Yao Ming". ESPN The Magazine. Retrieved July 11, 2020. The food in Chinese restaurants there is different than [sic] here. It was strange seeing a fortune cookie for the first time. We don't have them here. Must be an American invention.
  48. ^ a b Vecsey, George (January 12, 2003). "Sports of The Times; Fans in Shanghai Are Voting in the Mainstream". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 10, 2007. Retrieved November 8, 2010. Yao quickly said: "The world is getting smaller, and I think it's important to have a greater understanding of other cultures. I believe Shaquille O'Neal was joking, but I think that a lot of Asian people don't understand that kind of joke."
  49. ^ "Shaq says Yao comments were said in jest". CNNSI.com. Associated Press. January 10, 2003. Archived from the original on February 2, 2003. Retrieved October 17, 2010.
  50. ^ "Francis Towers Over Shaq-Yao Clash". NBA. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  51. ^ "Los Angeles Lakers at Houston Rockets Box Score, January 17, 2003". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
  52. ^ Wilborn, Michael (December 20, 2010). "Can't overestimate Yao Ming's impact". ESPN. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2015. Shaquille O'Neal once told me he hated that he hazed Yao a little bit early in his career.
  53. ^ Vecsey, George (January 12, 2003). "Fans in Shanghai Are Voting in the Mainstream". The New York Times.
  54. ^ "Sizing up Yao Ming's NBA career, impact". ESPN Internet Ventures. July 19, 2011. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011.
  55. ^ "Growing pains". SI.com. AOL Time Warner. February 9, 2011. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
  56. ^ a b c d e f g "Yao Ming Career Stats Page". NBA. Archived from the original on April 5, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  57. ^ "Stoudemire Wins 2002–03 'got milk?' NBA Rookie of the Year Award". NBA. April 24, 2003. Retrieved March 14, 2008.
  58. ^ "NBA: Yao Ming Bio Page". NBA. Archived from the original on April 19, 2007. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  59. ^ Bucher, Ric; Ming, Yao (September 22, 2004). Yao: A Life in Two Worlds. Miamax. p. 198. ISBN 1-4013-5214-6.
  60. ^ "Laureus Winners Archive". laureus.com. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved March 14, 2008.
  61. ^ "Team says resignation just one of several options". ESPN. February 2, 2005. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  62. ^ "Yao takes center stage in Houston's new stadium". The Taipei Times. November 1, 2003. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  63. ^ "Rockets Prevail in Triple-Overtime Thriller". NBA. February 22, 2004. Retrieved April 17, 2008.
  64. ^ "2004 NBA All-Star Game". NBA. February 15, 2004. Retrieved April 16, 2008.
  65. ^ "2004 NBA Playoffs series". ESPN. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  66. ^ a b "Francis' meeting with Magic triggers trade". ESPN. June 30, 2004. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  67. ^ Bucher, Ric; Ming, Yao (September 22, 2004). Yao: A Life in Two Worlds. Miamax. p. 288. ISBN 1-4013-5214-6.
  68. ^ Dupree, David (June 30, 2004). "Rockets muscle up; Magic will build around Francis". USA Today. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  69. ^ "Yao Ming gets record votes for All-Star game". China Daily. February 4, 2005. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  70. ^ "NBA Standings – 2004–2005". ESPN. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  71. ^ Feigen, Jonathan (April 27, 2005). "McGrady, Yao want to emulate Magic, Kareem". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  72. ^ "Mavericks Cruise Past Rockets in Game 7". NBA. Archived from the original on March 10, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  73. ^ "Yao Ming has surgery on toe, out several weeks". People's Daily. December 20, 2005. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  74. ^ "Yao Ming headlines NBA all-stars". cbcsports.ca. February 3, 2006. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  75. ^ "Yao Ming 2005–06 Game Log". basketballreference.com. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  76. ^ "McGrady taken to hospital with severe back spasms". ESPN. January 9, 2006. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  77. ^ Feigen, Jonathan (September 23, 2006). "As the countdown to training camp begins, it's no secret the team needs Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming on the floor as much as possible to make the playoffs". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  78. ^ "NBA Standings – 2005–2006". ESPN. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  79. ^ "Yao Ming has operation on broken foot". China Daily. April 15, 2006. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  80. ^ "Yao to miss six weeks of NBA season". Xinhau. December 24, 2006. Archived from the original on January 12, 2009. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  81. ^ Legler, Tim (January 17, 2007). "In value, Nash looking peerless". ESPN. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  82. ^ "Yao emerging as MVP candidate". China Daily. December 20, 2006. Retrieved July 18, 2009.
  83. ^ Zhao, Rui (January 24, 2007). "Yao on road to recovery, but will miss NBA All-Star Game". China Daily. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  84. ^ "Yao returns from broken leg against Cavs". ESPN. March 5, 2007. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  85. ^ "NBA Standings – 2006–2007". ESPN. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  86. ^ "Western Conference Round 1: Jazz vs. Rockets". ESPN. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  87. ^ "Yao: Blame me for 1st-round flameout". ESPN. May 3, 2007. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  88. ^ Murphy, Michael (May 6, 2007). "Yao: Blame me for 1st-round flameout". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  89. ^ Pierce, Damien (May 10, 2007). "McGrady, Yao selected to All-NBA second team". NBA. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  90. ^ Feigen, Jonathan (May 19, 2007). "Changing of the Guard". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  91. ^ Feigen, Jonathan (May 22, 2007). "Deal sealed: Rockets reach agreement, will introduce new coach on Wednesday". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  92. ^ Solomon, Jerome (May 23, 2007). "Rockets will actually score under Adelman". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  93. ^ Dupree, David (May 23, 2007). "Rockets may benefit from new coach, running mates". USA Today. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  94. ^ "Yao Ming's Rockets beat Yi Jianlian's Bucks 104–88". ESPN. November 9, 2007. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  95. ^ "Boston's Kevin Garnett Top Vote-Getter Among All-Stars". NBA. January 25, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  96. ^ "Yao out for season with stress fracture". Houston Chronicle. February 26, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  97. ^ Feigen, Jonathan (March 19, 2008). "Rockets' streak ends at 22 with loss to Celtics". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  98. ^ "Yao undergoes successful foot surgery". NBA. March 3, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2008.
  99. ^ "Rockets learn of surgery through media". ESPN. February 18, 2009. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  100. ^ "NBA Standings – 2008–2009". ESPN. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  101. ^ Peterson, Anne M. (April 19, 2009). "Yao has 24 points, Rockets beat Blazers 108–81". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved May 10, 2009.
  102. ^ "2009 NBA Playoffs – First round – Rockets vs. Trailblazers – ESPN". ESPN. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  103. ^ "Rockets reach second round for first time since '97". ESPN. April 30, 2009. Archived from the original on August 20, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  104. ^ "Yao gets banged up, bounces back to lift Rockets". ESPN. May 4, 2009. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  105. ^ "Kobe has 40, Artest ejected in Lakers' victory". ESPN. May 6, 2009. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  106. ^ "Kobe's 33 points lift Lakers to Game 3 win in Houston". ESPN. May 8, 2009. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  107. ^ Feigen, Jonathan (May 9, 2009). "Yao has ankle sprain, Game 4 status uncertain". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 10, 2009.
  108. ^ "Yao Ming Out for Remainder of Playoffs". NBA. May 9, 2009. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
  109. ^ Feigen, Jonathan (May 11, 2009). "Yao out but not too down". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 13, 2009.
  110. ^ "Yao's Foot Injury Threatens His Career". The New York Times. June 29, 2009.
  111. ^ "Yao-less Rockets rout Lakers, even series at 2–2". ESPN. May 10, 2009. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2009.
  112. ^ "Move frees up money for moves". ESPN. July 9, 2009. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  113. ^ "Yao Ming to Undergo Surgery Next Week". NBA. July 17, 2009. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
  114. ^ a b Solomon, Jerome (October 25, 2010). "Adelman has role in new season of '24'". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 27, 2010. But he can come closer to doing it in 24 minutes than he could in zero, which is what he averaged last season.
  115. ^ Rieken, Kristie (December 17, 2010). "Yao out for season with stress fracture". Yahoo! Sports via Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 21, 2010. Retrieved December 18, 2010.
  116. ^ Feigen, Jonathan (January 27, 2010). "Yao voted West's starting center for All-Star Game". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 28, 2011. Retrieved January 28, 2010. Yao Ming's stress fracture and ankle surgery ended his season and could end his career, but could not keep him from being voted in as a starting center for the All-Star Game next month in Los Angeles.
  117. ^ "Report: Yao Ming set to retire". ESPN Internet Ventures. Associated Press. July 11, 2011. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011.
  118. ^ FlorCruz, Jaime; Hong, Haolan (July 11, 2011). "Yao Ming Retiring? Chinese Fans Hope Not Yet". CNN. Archived from the original on July 12, 2011.
  119. ^ a b "Yao tells packed press conference in Shanghai he is retiring from NBA". Sports Illustrated. Associated Press. July 20, 2011. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  120. ^ a b "Rockets' Yao makes it official, retires from basketball – Houston Chronicle". Chron.com. July 20, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  121. ^ "Yao retires, who will be the next "Chinese icon"?". News.xinhuanet.com. July 20, 2011. Archived from the original on November 27, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  122. ^ Scheitrum, Kevin; Hareas, John; Martin, Brian (July 20, 2011). "NBA world reflects on Yao's importance to game". NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011.
  123. ^ Duncan, Chris (August 31, 2011). "Yao asks that Hall nomination be put on hold". Associated Press.
  124. ^ "Shaquille O'Neal, Allen Iverson highlight 2016 Hall of Fame class". ESPN. April 4, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  125. ^ "Rockets to Retire Yao Ming's #11 at Halftime of Game vs. Chicago on February 3, 2017". NBA. December 28, 2016. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  126. ^ "Wang ZhiZhi Bio Page". NBA. Archived from the original on March 7, 2009. Retrieved March 4, 2009.
  127. ^ "Yao Ming realizes his Olympic dream". China Daily. August 13, 2004. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  128. ^ "Yao bets his beard on China's top eight finish". People's Daily. August 12, 2004. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  129. ^ "Yao lifts China into Olympic quarter-finals". China Daily. August 24, 2004. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  130. ^ "NBA.com: Statistics: NBA Players on International Teams". NBA. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  131. ^ "China sweats over Yao Ming's foot". redorbit.com. April 13, 2006. Archived from the original on April 30, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  132. ^ a b "Game Report, China vs Slovenia 78–77, GROUP D". FIBA.com. August 24, 2006. Archived from the original on December 5, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  133. ^ "Game report, Greece v China 95–64, EIGHT-FINALS". FIBA.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  134. ^ Sheridan, Chris (February 26, 2008). "Yao to play in Olympics? For now, the answer is Yes". ESPN. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  135. ^ "Yao returns at Stankovic Cup, raises hopes for China". ESPN. Associated Press. July 17, 2008. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  136. ^ Blinebury, Fran (August 6, 2008). "Yao carries Olympic torch". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 9, 2009.
  137. ^ Mulvenney, Nick (August 7, 2008). "Yao to carry China flag at opening ceremony". Reuters. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
  138. ^ a b Mahoney, Brian (July 11, 2011). "On Basketball: Yao did much in little time". Yahoo! Sports. Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011.
  139. ^ "Spain shock China with fourth-quarter comeback and win in OT". FIBA.com. August 12, 2008. Archived from the original on September 22, 2008. Retrieved February 3, 2009.
  140. ^ "The time is Yao for China as hosts overcome Angola". FIBA.com. August 14, 2008. Archived from the original on September 20, 2008. Retrieved February 3, 2009.
  141. ^ "Yao leads China in survival show against Nowitzki's Germany". FIBA.com. August 16, 2008. Archived from the original on August 21, 2008. Retrieved February 3, 2009.
  142. ^ "Lithuania end China's Olympic dream with blowout win". FIBA.com. August 20, 2008. Archived from the original on August 22, 2008. Retrieved February 3, 2009.
  143. ^ "Statistics: Players – Leaders – Points". FIBA.com. Archived from the original on August 24, 2008. Retrieved February 7, 2009.
  144. ^ "Statistics: Players – Leaders: Rebounds". FIBA.com. Archived from the original on August 13, 2008. Retrieved February 7, 2009.
  145. ^ "Statistics: Players – Leaders: Blocks". FIBA.com. Archived from the original on August 15, 2008. Retrieved February 7, 2009.
  146. ^ "Yao Ming quits as head of China's basketball association". France 24. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  147. ^ Ching-Ching, Ni (April 28, 2005). "Working-Class Hero? NBA Star Nets China's Proletarian Award". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  148. ^ Fackler, Martin (April 27, 2002). "Yao Ming Ready to Mix It Up with the NBA's Best". Associated Press. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  149. ^ a b Zhou, Jing (August 30, 2007). "Groomsman Fondly Recounts Yao Ming's Marriage". china.org.cn. Retrieved March 16, 2008.
  150. ^ "In Step With: Yao Ming". Parade Magazine. May 22, 2005. Archived from the original on October 17, 2006.
  151. ^ Zen, TC Cheng (August 7, 2007). "Yao's wedding unites East and North cultures". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  152. ^ "Yao Ming's daughter named Amy". Shanghai Daily. July 30, 2010. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
  153. ^ "Yao's wife gives birth to seven-pound, nine-ounce baby | Chron.com – Houston Chronicle". Houston Chronicle. May 21, 2010. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  154. ^ Westbrook, Bruce. "Yao's Life in Two Worlds". NBA. Retrieved April 17, 2008.
  155. ^ Westbrook, Bruce. "The Year of the Yao". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 16, 2008.
  156. ^ Lacy, Liam (May 5, 2005). "The Year of the Yao". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  157. ^ "I am Yao Ming, wildlife advocate. AMA.; Reddit.com". November 13, 2014.
  158. ^ "Yao Ming voices role in Chinese animated film". Associated Press. June 5, 2009. Retrieved June 5, 2009.[dead link‍]
  159. ^ "Chinese basketball star Yao Ming returns to college". BBC News. November 7, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2011.
  160. ^ "Yao Ming begins college life". Global Times. November 8, 2011.
  161. ^ Ryding, Paul (July 10, 2018). "NBA legend Yao Ming finally graduates from Shanghai University after seven years fulfilling a promise to his folks". South China Morning Post. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  162. ^ "Yao Ming graduates from college". National Basketball Association. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  163. ^ Polacek, Scott. "Yao Ming Earns Economics Degree from Chinese University 7 Years After Enrolling". Bleacher Report. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  164. ^ Kolur, Nihal. "Yao Ming Graduates From College in China After Seven Years". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  165. ^ a b Nalley, Richard (October 26, 2016). "Tall Drink of Wine: Behind the Success of Yao Ming's Napa Valley Winery". Forbes.
  166. ^ Patrick, Dick (May 24, 2006). "Yao Ming's Injury Could Send Reebok Reeling". USA Today. Retrieved March 20, 2008.
  167. ^ "Yao tops forbes list again, but Ziyi catches up". China Daily. March 18, 2009. Retrieved March 28, 2009.
  168. ^ a b Pells, Eddie (March 11, 2008). "Injury doesn't diminish Yao's ability to sell products". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 16, 2008.
  169. ^ Rovell, Darren (September 14, 2007). "Yao Ming's Injury Could Send Reebok Reeling". CNBC. Retrieved March 16, 2008.
  170. ^ "Yao Ming, Coke's China subsidiary settle lawsuit". ESPN. October 17, 2003. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  171. ^ Walker, Rob (February 10, 2003). "A Brand Called Yao". Slate.com. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  172. ^ "Yao Ming stars in Apple commercial". basketball365.co.uk. February 17, 2003. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  173. ^ "Garmin Nets Partnership with NBA Superstar Yao Ming". Garmin.com. April 12, 2005. Archived from the original on March 2, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  174. ^ Hoffman, Ken (March 11, 2008). "Yao stands tall for McDonald's". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 16, 2008.
  175. ^ "Yao buys Shanghai Sharks". ESPN. July 16, 2009. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  176. ^ "Basketball without Borders—Asia". NBA. Retrieved March 16, 2008.
  177. ^ "Yao implores everyone to join in battling SARS". ESPN. May 8, 2003. Retrieved April 17, 2008.
  178. ^ "Basketball stars raise 7 million yuan at charity auction". Xinhau. September 14, 2007. Archived from the original on June 2, 2008. Retrieved March 16, 2008.
  179. ^ "Yao scores 21 points in charity game". Xinhau. September 14, 2007. Archived from the original on June 1, 2008. Retrieved March 16, 2008.
  180. ^ "Yao Ming Announces Launch of Foundation". NBA. June 10, 2008. Retrieved May 13, 2009.
  181. ^ "The Yao Ming Foundation". www.theyaomingfoundation.org. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  182. ^ Musaddique, Shafi (July 20, 2018). "Yao Ming: NBA legend builds schools, fights shark fin soup in China". CNBC. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  183. ^ Rhishja Cota-Larson (August 17, 2012). "Rhino Crisis Round Up: Yao Ming in Kenya & More". PlanetSave. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  184. ^ "Brought to tusk". The Economist. November 3, 2012.
  185. ^ "Say No Campaign". African Wildlife Foundation. June 30, 2014. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
  186. ^ "Yao Ming a focus at CPPCC venue - China.org.cn". www.china.org.cn. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  187. ^ "Not your average Chinese worker". NBC News. April 29, 2005. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2021.

Further reading

Listen to this article (42 minutes)
Spoken Wikipedia icon
This audio file was created from a revision of this article dated 17 January 2012 (2012-01-17), and does not reflect subsequent edits.
(Audio help · More spoken articles)

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yao_Ming&oldid=1259339400"