Yao Ming

The global ambassador — the most impactful international player in NBA history who transformed basketball's reach in China.

Yao Ming was born in Shanghai, China in 1980, the son of two professional basketball players. Houston Rockets selected him first overall in the 2002 NBA Draft — the first international player with no prior US college experience to be taken first. His nine-season career produced eight All-Star appearances and averages of 19.0 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. He was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. His combination of 7ft 6in size with surprisingly refined post skills, a reliable mid-range shot and excellent passing for his position made him one of the most versatile centres of his era. His partnership with Tracy McGrady at Houston produced exciting basketball but no deep playoff runs. He played for China at three Olympics and is the most recognised basketball player in the world's most populous country — his arrival in the NBA is credited with exponentially expanding the sport's popularity in China and bringing a television audience of hundreds of millions. Recurring foot and ankle injuries — including a stress fracture that required surgery — forced his retirement at 30. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. He later served as president of the Chinese Basketball Association.

Skilled 7'6" center with soft touch, post moves, and surprising agility

Bridged basketball between China and NBA, opened Asian market for league

• All-Star 8x
• All-NBA Second Team 2x
• NBA 75th Anniversary Team