Yao Ming
(Born 1980)
Hall of Fame Induction: 2016
Card Shown:
2016-17 Panini Grand Reserve
Upper Tier Signatures
Position: C
Height: 7’6″
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Yao Ming was a 7’6″ center from China who served as an ambassador for the game of basketball, exposing the NBA to a sports-hungry country with over one billion people. ESPN estimated that 200 million Chinese people watched Yao play for the Houston Rockets when television access was available. Ming paved the way for basketball stars who would come after him, like Kobe Bryant and Stephen Curry, to become immensely popular in China and internationally.
As a big man, Yao was a monster in the paint. He blocked shots, grabbed rebounds, and protected the rim admirably for the Rockets. Ming could also score. He had a nice mid-range jump shot and his excellent footwork under the basket helped him to score inside when he wasn’t throwing down a dunk.
Awards and Honors
- In 2002, Yao led the Shanghai Sharks to the Chinese Basketball Association championship and was named the Finals MVP . A few months later the Houston Rockets made Ming the number one overall selection in the 2002 NBA Draft.
- Yao was named the Sporting News Rookie of the Year in 2002-03. He finished second in voting for the NBA Rookie of the Year award and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
- In his eight-year NBA career, Ming was named an NBA All-Star all eight times. He did not play during the 2009-10 season due to a foot injury but in every other year from 2003-2011 Yao represented the game’s best.
- Ming was recognized as a member of the All-NBA Second Team twice and the All-NBA Third Team three times during his career.
- Yao led his Chinese team to three gold medals and was voted the Most Valuable Player three times at the FIBA Asian Championships.
Points of Interest
- Yao was a three-time Olympian for China, participating in the games in 2000 in Sydney, Australia, in 2004 in Athens, Greece, and in 2008 in Beijing, China.
- The Rockets reached the NBA playoffs four times in Ming’s career. They only advanced to the second round once, losing to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers (led by Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol) in seven games in 2009.
- Yao suffered a series of leg and foot injuries during his NBA career that limited his greatness and forced him to retire in 2011.
- During his NBA career, Yao averaged 19.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.
- In 2017, Yao Ming was named President of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
Statistics
Yao Ming Statistics
provided by Basketball-Reference.com
Yao Ming 2003-2004 Upper Deck
Finite Signatures
