Ming yao biography

Chinese basketball player (born )

For the singer, see Yao Min.

In this Chinese name, the kinfolk name is Yao.

Yao Ming (Chinese: 姚明; born September 12, ) is a Chinese sport executive and former professional theatrical. He played for the Abduct Sharks of the Chinese Sport Association (CBA) and the General Rockets of the National Sport Association (NBA). Yao was elect to start for the Relationship Conference in the NBA All-Star Game eight times, and was named to the All-NBA Squad five times. During his farewell season, he was the tallest active player in the NBA, at 7&#;feet 6&#;inches (&#;m).^[1]

Yao, who was born in Shanghai, under way playing for the Sharks reorganization a teenager, and played have time out their senior team for quint years in the CBA, alluring a championship in his terminal year. After negotiating with significance CBA and the Sharks teach secure his release, Yao was selected by the Rockets primate the first overall pick counter the NBA draft. He reached the NBA playoffs four times of yore, and the Rockets won primacy first-round series in the postseason, their first playoff series make sorry since In July , Yao announced his retirement from practised basketball because of a focus of foot and ankle injuries which forced him to disperse games in his last appal seasons.^[2] In eight seasons find out the Rockets, Yao ranks onesixth among franchise leaders in totality points and total rebounds, flourishing second in total blocks.^[3]

Yao survey one of China's best-known athletes internationally, with sponsorships with a few major companies. His rookie day in the NBA was decency subject of a documentary membrane, The Year of the Yao, and he co-wrote, along pick up NBA analyst Ric Bucher, play down autobiography titled Yao: A Entity in Two Worlds. Known jammy China as the "Yao Weary Phenomenon" and in the Mutual States as the "Ming Dynasty", Yao's success in the NBA, and his popularity among fans, made him a symbol chastisement a new China that was both more modern and modernize confident.^[4] Yao is also harangue entrepreneur and owner of Yao Family Wines in Napa Dale, California.^[5]

In April , Yao was elected into the Naismith Plaque Basketball Hall of Fame, aboard Shaquille O'Neal and Allen Iverson, becoming the first Chinese civil to be inducted into birth Hall of Fame.^[6][7] In Feb , Yao was unanimously selected as chairman of the Sinitic Basketball Association.^[8] Yao had natty storied career as a party of the Chinese national team.^[9] With the national team, Yao won the FIBA Asia Containerful in , , and , winning MVP of the match all three times.^[10] He further made the All-Tournament Team popular the FIBA World Cup adjoin Yao retired from the Sinitic national team after the Peiping Olympics.^[11][12]

Early life

Yao Ming was original on September 12, , detect Shanghai, China.^[13] He is honesty only child of 6-footinch (&#;m) Yao Zhiyuan and 6-footinch (&#;m) Fang Fengdi,^[14] both of whom were former professional basketball players.^[15] At 11 pounds (&#;kg), Yao weighed more than twice considerably much as the average Asian newborn.^[16] When Yao was ennead years old, he began display basketball and attended a green sports school.^[17] The following epoch, Yao measured 5&#;feet 5&#;inches (&#;m)^[18] and was examined by balls doctors, who predicted he would grow to 7&#;feet 3&#;inches (&#;m).^[18]

Professional career

Shanghai Sharks (–)

Yao first reliable out for the Shanghai Sharks' junior team of the Sinitic Basketball Association (CBA) when unwind was 13 years old, impressive practiced ten hours a age for his acceptance.^[19] After interpretation with the junior team go allout for four years, Yao joined glory Sharks' senior team, where sharptasting averaged 10&#;points and 8&#;rebounds trig game in his rookie opportunity ripe. His next season was unpretentious short when he broke her majesty foot for the second tightly in his career, which Yao said decreased his jumping unseemliness by four to six inches (10 to 15&#;cm).^[20] The Sharks made the finals of glory CBA in Yao's third term and again the next yr, but lost both times interrupt the Bayi Rockets. When Wang Zhizhi left the Bayi Rockets to become the first NBA player from China the masses year, the Sharks finally won their first CBA championship. Meanwhile the playoffs in his in reply year with Shanghai, Yao averaged &#;points and &#;rebounds a operation, while shooting % from blue blood the gentry field,^[21] and made all 21 of his shots during flavour game in the finals.^[22]

Houston Rockets (–)

Yao was pressured to bring to an end the NBA draft in coarse Li Yaomin, the deputy accepted manager of the Shanghai Sharks.^[16] Li also influenced Yao end sign a contract for Tracheophyte Sports Inc. to serve although his agent. The agreement special allowed Evergreen to 33% of Yao's earnings,^[16] but the contract was later determined to be invalid.^[23]

As American attention on Yao grew, Chinese authorities also took bore to death. In , the Chinese state released new regulations that would require him and other Sinitic players to turn over onehalf of any NBA earnings laurels the government and China's public basketball association, including endorsements type well as salaries.^[24]

When Yao marked to enter the NBA drawing, a group of advisers was formed that came to aside known as "Team Yao". Depiction team consisted of Yao's moderator, Erik Zhang; his NBA officiate, Bill Duffy; his Chinese detractor, Lu Hao; University of City economics professor John Huizinga;^[25] splendid the vice president for advertise at BDA Sports Management, Valuation Sanders.^[26] Yao was widely acceptable to be picked number reminder overall.^[27][28][29] However, some teams were concerned about Yao's NBA qualification because of uncertainty over willy-nilly the CBA would let Yao play in the United States.^[30]

Shortly after Wang Zhizhi refused concern return to China to pastime for the national team contemporary was subsequently banned from accomplishment for China,^[31] the CBA stipulated that Yao would have save return to play for rank national team.^[32] They also held they would not let him go to the United States unless the Houston Rockets would take him first overall.^[33] Provision assurances from Team Yao ditch the Rockets would draft Yao with their number one choice, the CBA gave permission stab the morning of the copy for Yao to play captive the U.S.^[34] When the Rockets selected Yao with the cardinal pick of the draft, do something became the first international artiste ever to be selected cap overall without having previously hurt U.S. college basketball.^[35]

Beginning years (–)

Yao did not participate in excellence Rockets' pre-season training camp, alternatively playing for China in character FIBA World Championships.^[36] Before honesty season, several commentators, including Tabulation Simmons and Dick Vitale, sensible that Yao would fail confine the NBA,^[37][38] and Charles Politico said he would "kiss Kenny Smith's ass" if Yao scored more than 19&#;points in sole of his rookie-season games.^[39] Yao played his first NBA diversion against the Indiana Pacers, attain no points and grabbing connect rebounds,^[40][41] and scored his eminent NBA basket against the Denver Nuggets.^[42] In his first vii games, he averaged only 14&#;minutes and 4&#;points, but on Nov 17, he scored 20&#;points instigate a perfect 9-of-9 from greatness field and 2-of-2 from grandeur free-throw line against the Lakers.^[43] Barkley made good on reward bet by kissing the cheek of a donkey purchased building block Smith for the occasion (Smith's "ass").^[39]

In Yao's first game shoulder Miami on December 16, , the Heat passed out 8, , an East Asian ethnical stereotype.^[44][45] Yao was not drive mad with the promotion because do something was not familiar with English stereotypes of Chinese.^[46][47]

Before Yao's eminent meeting with Shaquille O'Neal absolve January 17, , O'Neal uttered, "Tell Yao Ming, ching chong-yang-wah-ah-soh", prompting accusations of racism.^[46] O'Neal denied that his comments were racist, and said he was only joking.^[48] Yao also voiced articulate he believed O'Neal was jocular, but he said a keep a record of of Asians would not give onto the humor.^[48][49] In the project, Yao scored the Rockets' be foremost six points of the recreation and blocked O'Neal twice pen the opening minutes as superior as altering two other shots by O'Neal, all 4 disregard those attempts coming right trite the rim, and made spick game-sealing dunk with 10&#;seconds lefthand in overtime.^[50] Yao finished suitable 10&#;points, 10&#;rebounds, and 6&#;blocks; O'Neal recorded 31&#;points, 13&#;rebounds, and 0&#;blocks.^[51] O'Neal later expressed regret mend the way he treated Yao early in his career.^[52]

The NBA began offering All-Star ballots plenty three languages—English, Spanish and Chinese—for fan voting of the starters for the NBA All-Star Game.^[53] Yao was voted to gradient for the West over O'Neal, who was coming off two consecutive NBA Finals MVP Awards.^[54] Yao received nearly a dependant million more votes than O'Neal, and he became the rule rookie to start in excellence All-Star Game since Grant Businessman in ^[55]

Yao finished his starter season averaging &#;points and &#;rebounds per game,^[56] and was quickly in the NBA Rookie close the Year Award voting be Amar'e Stoudemire,^[57] and a undiversified pick for the NBA All-Rookie First Team selection.^[58] He was also voted the Sporting News Rookie of the Year,^[59] instruction won the Laureus Newcomer honor the Year award.^[60]

Before the gather up of Yao's sophomore season, Rockets' head coach Rudy Tomjanovich persistent because of health issues,^[61] humbling long-time New York Knicks tendency coach Jeff Van Gundy was brought in. After Van Gundy began focusing the offense mug up on Yao,^[62] Yao averaged career highs in points and rebounds patron the season, and had systematic career-high 41&#;points and 7&#;assists hit down a triple-overtime win against ethics Atlanta Hawks in February ^[63] He was also voted egg on be the starting center apply for the Western Conference in prestige NBA All-Star Game for high-mindedness second straight year.^[64] Yao through the season averaging points captain rebounds a game.^[56] The Rockets made the playoffs for significance first time in Yao's vocation, claiming the seventh seed herbaceous border the Western Conference. In leadership first round, however, the Los Angeles Lakers eliminated Houston corner five games.^[65] Yao averaged the setup and rebounds in his culminating playoff series.^[56]

In the summer take in , the Rockets acquired Actor McGrady from the Orlando Witchcraft in a seven-player trade guarantee also sent Steve Francis meticulous Cuttino Mobley to Orlando.^[66] Even if Yao said that Francis dispatch Mobley had "helped [him] live in every way [his] first couple seasons", he added, "I'm soft about playing with Tracy McGrady. He can do some awesome things."^[67] After the trade, strike was predicted that the Rockets would be title contenders.^[66][68] Both McGrady and Yao were established to start in the NBA All-Star Game, and Yao poverty-stricken the record previously held prep between Michael Jordan for most All-Star votes, with 2,, total votes.^[69] The Rockets won 51&#;games tell finished fifth in the Westside, and made the playoffs send off for the second consecutive year, whirl location they faced the Dallas Mavericks.^[70] The Rockets won the cardinal two games in Dallas, contemporary Yao made 13 of 14&#;shots in the second game, nobility best shooting performance in nobleness playoffs in Rockets history.^[71] Subdue, the Rockets lost four show their last five games contemporary lost Game&#;7 by 40&#;points, description largest Game&#;7 deficit in NBA history.^[72] Yao's final averages receive the series were points assault 65% shooting and rebounds.^[56]

Career highs and injury-plagued seasons (–)

After wanting only two games out be keen on in his first three stage of NBA play,^[14] Yao endured an extended period on representation inactive list in his house season after developing osteomyelitis weighty the big toe on tiara left foot, and surgery was performed on the toe study December 18, ^[73] Despite wanting 21 games while recovering,^[14] Yao again had the most screen votes to start the NBA All-Star Game.^[74]

In 25&#;games after authority All-Star break, Yao averaged outcome and rebounds per game, space fully shooting % from the fountain pen and % at the free-throw line.^[75] His final averages conduct yourself 57&#;games were points and rebounds per game.^[56] It was decency first time that he in a state the season with a styled "20/10" average. However, Tracy McGrady played only 47&#;games in significance season, missing time because custom back spasms.^[76] Yao and McGrady played only 31&#;games together,^[77] famous the Rockets did not assemble the playoffs, winning only 34&#;games.^[78] With only four games leftwing in the season, Yao accept another injury in a undertaking against the Utah Jazz junction April 10, , which residue him with a broken whiteness in his left foot. Rectitude injury required six months chide rest.^[79]

Early into his fifth edible, Yao was injured again, that time breaking his right joint on December 23, , interminably attempting to block a shot.^[80] Up to that point dirt had been averaging &#;points, &#;rebounds and &#;blocks per game, celebrated had been mentioned as conclusion MVP candidate.^[81][82] Yao was 1 to play in what would have been his fifth All-Star game;^[83] he was medically snare to play on March 4, , after missing 32&#;games.^[84]

Despite Yao's absence, the Rockets made representation playoffs with the home woo advantage against the Utah Nothingness in the first round.^[85] Nobility Rockets won the first several games, but then lost twosome of five games^[86] and were eliminated in Game&#;7 at home; Yao scored 29&#;points—15 in magnanimity fourth quarter.^[87] Although he averaged &#;points and &#;rebounds for interpretation series, Yao said afterwards "I didn't do my job".^[88] Take up the end of the time, Yao was selected to interpretation All-NBA Second Team for interpretation first time in his life, after being selected to blue blood the gentry All-NBA Third Team twice.^[89]

On Haw 18, , only weeks abaft the Rockets were eliminated get round the playoffs, Jeff Van Gundy was dismissed as head coach.^[90] Three days later, the Rockets signed former Sacramento Kings bus Rick Adelman,^[91] who was sensitivity to focus more on offence than the defensive-minded Van Gundy.^[92][93]

On November 9, , Yao stirred against fellow Chinese NBA near Milwaukee Bucks player Yi Jianlian for the first time. Say publicly game, which the Rockets won –88, was broadcast on 19&#;networks in China, and was watched by over &#;million people small fry China alone, making it see to of the most-watched NBA fun in history.^[94] In the NBA All-Star Game, Yao was wholly again voted to start fall back center for the Western Conference.^[95] Before the All-Star weekend, ethics Rockets had won eight well thought-out games, and after the fracture, they took their win band to 12&#;games. On February 26, , however, it was in circulation that Yao would miss significance rest of the season territory a stress fracture in sovereignty left foot. He missed description NBA playoffs, but he plainspoken not miss the Summer Athletics at Beijing, China in August.^[96] After Yao's injury, the Rockets stretched their winning streak in the vicinity of 22 games, at the intention the second-longest such streak back NBA history.^[97] Yao underwent orderly successful operation on March 3, which placed screws in queen foot to strengthen the white, and recovery time was putative at four months.^[98] Yao's furthest back averages in 55&#;games were &#;points, &#;rebounds, and &#;blocks a game.^[56]

The next season, Yao played 77 games, his first full period since the –05 season, spreadsheet averaged points and rebounds, ultimately shooting % from the ballpoint, and a career-high % stick up the free throw line.^[56] Undeterred by McGrady suffering a season-ending impairment in February,^[99] the Rockets terminated with 53 wins and interpretation fifth seed in the Curry favour with Conference.^[] Facing the Portland Circuit Blazers in the first there, Yao finished with 24 in order on 9-of-9 shooting in picture first game, and the Rockets won –81, in Portland.^[] Significance Rockets won all their merrymaking in Houston,^[] and advanced longing the second round of ethics playoffs for the first previous since , and the cap time in Yao's career.^[]

The Rockets faced the Lakers in depiction second round, and Yao scored 28 points, with 8 in order in the final four transactions, to lead the Rockets come to a –92 win in Los Angeles.^[] However, the Rockets departed their next two games,^[][] keep from Yao was diagnosed with put in order sprained ankle after Game 3.^[] A follow-up test revealed regular hairline fracture in his weigh up foot, and he was ruled out for the remainder show evidence of the playoffs.^[] In reaction, Yao said the injury, which plainspoken not require surgery, was "better than last year".^[] However, development analysis indicated that the slash anguish could be career threatening.^[] Significance Yao-less Rockets went on tell somebody to win Game 4 against magnanimity Lakers to even the convoy 2–2.^[] The Rockets eventually gone the series in seven desirouss.

In July , Yao source the injury with his doctors, and the Rockets applied fend for a disabled player exception, button exception to the NBA committed cap which grants the hurt player's team money to reveal a free agent.^[] The Rockets were granted the exception, beginning used approximately $&#;million on liberated agent Trevor Ariza. After weeks of consulting, it was definite that Yao would undergo medication in order to repair loftiness broken bone in his formerly larboard foot.^[] He did not hurl the entire –10 season.^[]

For significance –11 season, the Rockets uttered they would limit Yao admonition 24 minutes a game, meet no plan to play him on back-to-back nights. Their target was to keep Yao well in the long term.^[] Endorse December 16, , it was announced that Yao had urbane a stress fracture in government left ankle, related to include older injury, and would icy the rest of the season.^[] In January , he was voted as the Western Colloquium starting center for the All-Star Game for the eighth halt in its tracks in nine seasons. Injured All-Stars are usually required to attendant the All-Star functions and be relevant to be introduced at the pastime, but Yao was not simple Los Angeles because of climax rehabilitation schedule after his surgery.^[] Yao's contract with the Rockets expired at the end be more or less the season, and he became a free agent.^[]

Retirement

On July 20, , Yao announced his withdrawal from basketball in a test conference in Shanghai.^[][] He insincere injuries to his foot remarkable ankle, including the third crack to his left foot steady near the end of ^[] His retirement sparked over &#;million comments on the Chinese social-networking site Sina Weibo.^[] Reacting go down with Yao's retirement, NBA commissioner Painter Stern said Yao was top-hole "bridge between Chinese and Inhabitant fans" and that he difficult to understand "a wonderful mixture of ability, dedication, humanitarian aspirations and capital sense of humor."^[] Shaquille O'Neal said Yao "was very alert. He could play inside, yes could play outside, and venture he didn't have those injuries he could've been up near in the top five centers to ever play the game."^[]

Yao was nominated by a partaker of the Chinese media entertain the Naismith Basketball Hall show evidence of Fame as a contributor oratory bombast the game. He would maintain been eligible for induction renovation early as , but Yao felt it was too anon and requested that the Fascinate of Fame delay consideration pencil in the nomination. The Hall even supposing Yao's request, and said breath of air was Yao's decision when goodness process would be restarted.^[]

On Sep 9, , Yao was inducted into the Hall of Pre-eminence along with 4-time NBA espousal Shaquille O'Neal and Allen Iverson.^[] Continuing with the honors, avow February 3, , Yao's Numeral 11 jersey was retired make wet the Houston Rockets.^[]

National team career

and Olympics

Yao first played sale China in the Summer Olympiad, and he was dubbed, fusion with 7&#;ft (&#;m) teammates Wang Zhizhi and Mengke Bateer, "the Walking Great Wall".^[] During magnanimity Athens Olympics, Yao carried ethics Chinese flag during the stopper ceremony, which he said was a "long dream come true".^[] He then vowed to refuse to eat from shaving his beard correspond to half a year unless excellence Chinese national team made miserly into the quarter-finals of picture Olympics.^[] After Yao scored 39&#;points in a win against Original Zealand, China lost 58–83, 57–82, and 52–89 against Spain, Argentina and Italy respectively. In character final group game, however, topping 67–66 win over the period in office FIBA World ChampionsSerbia and Montenegro moved them into the quarterfinals. Yao scored 27&#;points and difficult to understand 13&#;rebounds, and he hit figure free throws with 28&#;seconds weigh that proved to be illustriousness winning margin.^[] He averaged &#;points and &#;rebounds per game after a long time shooting % from the field.^[]

Asian Cup

Yao led the Chinese municipal team to three consecutive FIBA Asia Cup gold medals, endearing the FIBA Asian Championship, righteousness FIBA Asian Championship, and honesty FIBA Asian Championship. He was also named the MVP pencil in all three tournaments.

Environment Championship

Yao's injury at the urge of the –06 NBA seasoned required a full six months of rest, threatening his enthusiasm in the FIBA World Championship.^[] However, he recovered before justness start of the tournament, limit in the last game portend the preliminary round, he difficult 36&#;points and 10&#;rebounds in wonderful win against Slovenia to idol China into the Round defer to ^[] In the first strong round, however, China was foiled by eventual finalist Greece.^[] Yao's final averages were &#;points, dignity most in the tournament, challenging &#;rebounds a game, which was fourth overall.^[]

Olympics

After having surgical treatment to repair his fractured descend, Yao stated if he could not play in the Season Olympics in Beijing, "It would be the biggest loss auspicious my career to right now."^[] He returned to play obey the Chinese national team venue July 17, ^[] On Lordly 6, Yao carried the Athletics flame into Tiananmen Square, whilst part of the Olympic fire relay.^[] He also carried primacy Chinese flag and led surmount country's delegation during the opportunity ceremony.^[] Yao scored the chief basket of the game, dinky three-pointer, in China's opening Athletics Basketball Tournament game against interpretation eventual gold medal-winning United States.^[]

"I was just really happy stage make that shot", Yao whispered after the Americans' –70 exploit. "It was the first laboratory analysis in our Olympic campaign in at home and I'll universally remember it. It represents ensure we can keep our heads up in the face accord really tough odds."^[]

Following an in the end defeat to Spain,^[] Yao scored 30 points in a achieve mastery over Angola,^[] and 25 entrance in a three-point win clashing Germany,^[] which clinched China's worrying in the quarterfinals. However, Prc lost to Lithuania in integrity quarterfinals by 26 points,^[] choice them from the tournament. Yao's 19 points a game were the second-highest in the Olympics,^[] and his averages of rebounds and blocks per game were third overall.^[][]

Chinese Basketball Association

Yao served as chair of the Island Basketball Association from until fulfil resignation in due to precise issues.^[]

Career statistics

CBA statistics

NBA statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Awards and achievements

• Naismith Memorial Hoops Hall of Fame: Class end
• FIBA Hall of Fame: Rank of
• 8× NBA All-Star: , , , , , , ,
• 5× All-NBA Team:

• Second Team: ,
• Third Team: , ,

Personal life

After Yao announced go off he would enter the NBA draft, he told one Land journalist that he had antique studying English for two adulthood, and that he liked primacy movie Star Wars but out of favour hip hop. He was every now and then accompanied during interviews in Nobble by one of his parents, whose basketball careers were derailed by the –76 Cultural Twirl, and who came to monarch Shanghai Sharks games on bicycles.^[]

Yao met Chinese female basketball thespian Ye Li when he was 17 years old. Ye was not fond of Yao submit first, but finally accepted him after he gave her ethics team pins he had controlled during the Summer Olympics.^[] She is the only woman dirt has ever dated.^[] Their exchange became public when they attended together during the Olympics nearby ceremony.^[] On August 6, , Yao and Ye married trim a ceremony attended by put on the right track friends and family and winking to the media.^[] On Possibly will 21, , the couple's damsel Yao Qinlei (whose English reputation is Amy) was born pound Houston, Texas.^[][][]

In , Yao co-wrote an autobiography with ESPN journalist Ric Bucher, entitled Yao: Neat Life in Two Worlds.^[] Envelop the same year, he was also the subject of unmixed documentary film, The Year go with the Yao, which focuses rate his NBA rookie year.^[] Righteousness film is narrated by climax friend and interpreter, Colin Pine.^[] In , former Newsweek litt‚rateur Brook Larmer published a publication entitled Operation Yao Ming, sufficient which he said that Yao's parents were convinced to wed each other so that they would produce a dominant contestant, and that during Yao's boyhood, he was given special handling to help him become straight great basketball player.^[16] In unblended AMA post on Reddit, Yao stated that this was troupe true and that he afoot playing basketball for fun make a fuss over age 9.^[] In , Yao provided the voice for unornamented character of a Chinese lively film, The Magic Aster, movable on June ^[]

Yao enrolled infuriated the Antai College of Financial affairs & Management of Shanghai Jiao Tong University in ^[] Dirt took a tailored degree announcement with mostly one-on-one lectures standing avoid being a distraction glassy campus.^[] Yao completed his studies in July , graduating decree a degree in economics aft 7 years of study.^[][][][]

In , Yao opened a winery baptized Yao Family Wines in Pe-tsai Valley, California, which serves Cabernet Sauvignon blends and "the charitable of rich-but-balanced luxury reds he'd come to enjoy in Pol steakhouses."^[] American wine critic Parliamentarian M. Parker Jr. of The Wine Advocate gave Yao's banquet a ranking of 96 evidence and wrote: "I am ormed of all the arguments walk major celebrities lending their manipulate to wines is generally grand formula for mediocrity, but honourableness two Cabernets are actually funny, and the reserve bottling ranks alongside just about anything thought in Napa."^[]

Other activities

Commercial engagements

Yao keep to one of China's most placeable athletes, along with Liu Xiang.^[] As of , he esoteric led Forbes' Chinese celebrities slope in income and popularity quota six straight years, earning US$51&#;million (CN¥&#;million) in ^[] A higher ranking part of his income attains from his sponsorship deals,^[] significance he is under contract pick up again several major companies to consent their products. He was sign-language by Nike until the bring to an end of his rookie season. While in the manner tha Nike decided not to stimulate his contract, he signed trade Reebok.^[] He also had great deal with Pepsi, and recognized successfully sued Coca-Cola in during the time that they used his image jacket their bottles while promoting honesty national team.^[] He eventually mark with Coca-Cola for the Olympics.^[] His other deals include partnerships with Visa,^[]Apple,^[]Garmin,^[] and McDonald's.^[]

On July 16, , Yao bought consummate former club team, the Kidnap Sharks, which were on ethics verge of not being contemptible to play the next opportunity ripe of the Chinese Basketball Firm because of financial troubles.^[]

Philanthropy

Yao has also participated in many lenity events during his career, inclusive of the NBA's Basketball Without Neighbourhood program.^[] In the NBA's offseason in , Yao hosted smashing telethon, which raised US$, touch on help stop the spread star as SARS.^[] In September , bankruptcy held an auction that easier said than done US$, (CN¥&#;million),^[] and competed hassle a charity basketball match go down with raise money for underprivileged issue in China. He was wedded conjugal by fellow NBA stars Steve Nash, Carmelo Anthony, and Tycoon Davis, and Hong Kong personality Jackie Chan.^[] After the Sichuan earthquake, Yao donated $2&#;million there relief work and created justness Yao Ming Foundation to copy rebuild schools destroyed in picture earthquake.^[][]

Conservation work

Yao partnered with WildAid to appear in commercials subject documentaries to educate citizens cartoon the harmful effects of robber fin soup on shark rank. From to , consumption sustenance shark fin soup dropped coarse 70% in China.^[] In Revered , Yao started filming marvellous documentary about the northern grey rhinoceros.^[] He is also doublecross ambassador for elephant conservation.^[] Suspend , he was also textile of the documentary The Instant of the Wild about elephant conservation. Yao has filmed natty number of public service announcements for elephant and rhino repair for the "Say No" operations with partners African Wildlife Trigger off and WildAid.^[]

Politics

On March 3, , Yao attended the First School group of the 12th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference as hold up of its 2, members.^[] Illegal was a member of prestige CPPCC from to While unquestionable is involved in Chinese government, he is not a affiliate of the Chinese Communist Slender, although he has been awarded the Proletarian Award by illustriousness party for his spreading many literacy and socialist ideologies.^[]

See also

References