Yao Ming

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Yao Ming [File Photo]

Yao Ming is a retired Chinese professional basketball player who played center for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 2002 to 2011. Yao, considered by many as the best-known and most popular Chinese athlete in the world, was twice listed as one of The World's Most Influential 100 People by Time Magazine. Yao has undertaken a series of charitable activities, including that of boycotting shark fin soup.

 

Yao, together with Tracy McGrady, Steve Francis, Shane Battier and Luis Scola, were listed as the Rockets 2000's Team of the Decade in April 2012. He was acclaimed as "one of the NBA's best big men and also one of the greatest global ambassadors the game has ever seen." Yao was selected by the Houston Rockets as the first overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft. There he became an eight-time all-Star and was named to the All-NBA Team five times, winning fame with his skills, grace, modesty and humor.

Yao is now a full-time student at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and boss of his former club Shanghai Sharks. He also led the Chinese national team to 3 consecutive FIBA Asian Championship golds in 2001, 2003 and 2005.

Archive:

Born: Sept. 12, 1980, in Shanghai

Height: 229cm; Weight: 141kg

Pro career: 1997-2011

Career history:

Chinese National Basketball Team

Houston Rockets (2002–2011)

Shanghai Sharks (CBA) (1997–2002)