Yao Ming

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.