Offensive Game
An exceptional interior scorer with elite footwork, soft touch, and reliable mid-range shooting. His combination of height, skill, and intelligence made him virtually unguardable in the post when healthy.
Career Journey
Houston Rockets
2002-2011
Yao reshaped what the basketball world thought a seven-foot-six center could be: nimble, skilled, and comfortable facing up as easily as bulldozing the block. The No. 1 pick in 2002, he anchored Houston for eight seasons and made the All-Star Game in every one, earning five All-NBA nods while averaging 19.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and nearly two blocks on 52% shooting. His footwork and soft touch were unusual for his size, but the deeper story was reach: he turned hundreds of millions of Chinese fans into NBA viewers and helped make the league a truly global product. Chronic foot and leg injuries forced his retirement in 2011, and he entered the Hall of Fame in 2016 as the first Chinese inductee. He later led the Chinese Basketball Association as its president.
Offensive Game
An exceptional interior scorer with elite footwork, soft touch, and reliable mid-range shooting. His combination of height, skill, and intelligence made him virtually unguardable in the post when healthy.
Defensive Game
One of the great rim protectors of his era — his 7'6" frame altered shots and controlled the paint. His positioning and timing compensated for limited mobility and made him a consistent defensive anchor.
All articles
Yao Ming transformed the Houston Rockets into a global phenomenon. Standing 7'6" and playing with unprecedented skill for a center of his size, Yao became one of the most beloved players in NBA history before injuries cut his career tragically short.
Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
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No. 1 overall pick (2002)
Selected first by Houston out of the Shanghai Sharks, the first international player without U.S. college experience taken No. 1.
8x All-Star, 5x All-NBA
Made the All-Star Game in all eight of his seasons, averaging 19.0 points and 9.2 rebounds on 52.4% shooting.
Hall of Fame (2016)
Inducted alongside Shaquille O'Neal and Allen Iverson — the first Chinese-born player enshrined.
CBA President
Retired in 2011 after repeated foot and leg injuries, then led the Chinese Basketball Association as its president.
Intangibles
A basketball scholar shaped by the technical Chinese development system. His ability to read defensive rotations, position for rebounds, and make smart post decisions improved every season.
Personal Life & Family
Partner
Ye Li
Children (1)
Parents & Siblings
Off the Court
Yao Foundation supporting youth sports and education in rural China
Environmental conservation initiatives
Did You Know?
Both of Yao's parents were professional basketball players — his father stood 6'10" and his mother was 6'3" and a national team member, making him almost genetically destined for basketball.
Yao's arrival in 2002 transformed basketball into a national phenomenon in China — games featuring him regularly drew hundreds of millions of viewers, making him one of the most-watched athletes on earth.
He wore jersey #11 with the Rockets and his number was retired in his honor — the only Rockets player whose number was retired having spent his entire NBA career with one team.
Yao has served as chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association since 2017, overseeing significant reforms to league structure and player development programs.
Career Honors
8x NBA All-Star (2003-2011)
NBA All-Rookie First Team (2003)
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2016)
NBA 75th Anniversary Team (2021)
Official Jerseys
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