Yao Ming is expected to be among those named to the NBA Hall of Fame tomorrow, according to ESPN.
Yao spent his entire nine year NBA career with the Houston Rockets and put the NBA on the map in China.
His career was cut short by injury, but his contributions to the game are undeniable.
He was the number one overall selection of the NBA draft in 2002. He averaged 19 points per game during his career and 9.2 rebounds. The 7’6″ center is a rarity among big men. He was actually a good free throw shooter with an 83 percent career average.
In his first game against the 7’1″ 360 pound Shaquille O’Neal, he blocked the big man’s first three shots.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Yao about the expected Hall of Fame announcement. “There’s a long list that can be nominated. I don’t have a long career in the NBA, but I appreciate people give me that chance.”
He remains humble despite his numerous achievements and even minimizes his impact on the popularity of basketball in China.
“Basketball is a global game itself. I’m just a lucky guy show up at the right time,” he said to ESPN’s Cary Chow.
You can hear Yao talk about his ego and basketball’s role outside of sports in the interview below.
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