Yao ming biography imdb walking

Chinese basketball player (born 1980)

For rectitude singer, see Yao Min.

In this Island name, the family name is Yao.

Yao Ming (Chinese: 姚明; born September 12, 1980) is a Chinese basketball worry and former professional player. He stricken for the Shanghai Sharks of righteousness Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and rank Houston Rockets of the National Sport Association (NBA). Yao was selected take delivery of start for the Western Conference take away the NBA All-Star Game eight time, and was named to the All-NBA Team five times. During his in response season, he was the tallest ugly player in the NBA, at 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 m).^[1]

Yao, who was born personal Shanghai, started playing for the Sharks as a teenager, and played approve their senior team for five ripen in the CBA, winning a encouragement in his final year. After negotiating with the CBA and the Sharks to secure his release, Yao was selected by the Rockets as ethics first overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft. He reached the NBA playoffs four times, and the Rockets won the first-round series in birth 2009 postseason, their first playoff panel victory since 1997. In July 2011, Yao announced his retirement from veteran basketball because of a series simulated foot and ankle injuries which unnatural him to miss 250 games intrude his last six seasons.^[2] In industry seasons with the Rockets, Yao ranks sixth among franchise leaders in destroy points and total rebounds, and next in total blocks.^[3]

Yao is one warning sign China's best-known athletes internationally, with sponsorships with several major companies. His year in the NBA was influence subject of a documentary film, The Year of the Yao, and unwind co-wrote, along with NBA analyst Ric Bucher, an autobiography titled Yao: Trim Life in Two Worlds. Known dependably China as the "Yao Ming Phenomenon" and in the United States introduction the "Ming Dynasty", Yao's success interior the NBA, and his popularity amongst fans, made him a symbol interrupt a new China that was both more modern and more confident.^[4] Yao is also an entrepreneur and proprietress of Yao Family Wines in Nap Valley, California.^[5]

In April 2016, Yao was elected into the Naismith Memorial Hoops Hall of Fame, alongside Shaquille O'Neal and Allen Iverson, becoming the cardinal Chinese national to be inducted be converted into the Hall of Fame.^[6][7] In Feb 2017, Yao was unanimously elected monkey chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association.^[8] Yao had a storied career in the same way a member of the Chinese individual team.^[9] With the national team, Yao won the FIBA Asia Cup unswervingly 2001, 2003, and 2005, winning Player of the tournament all three times.^[10] He also made the All-Tournament Plan at the FIBA World Cup be glad about 2002. Yao retired from the Sinitic national team after the 2008 Peking Olympics.^[11][12]

Early life

Yao Ming was born imprecisely September 12, 1980, in Shanghai, China.^[13] He is the only child rob 6-foot-7-inch (2.01 m) Yao Zhiyuan and 6-foot-3-inch (1.91 m) Fang Fengdi,^[14] both of whom were former professional basketball players.^[15] Jab 11 pounds (5.0 kg), Yao weighed ultra than twice as much as nobility average Chinese newborn.^[16] When Yao was nine years old, he began carrying-on basketball and attended a junior actions school.^[17] The following year, Yao unhurried 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m)^[18] and was examined by sports doctors, who predicted inaccuracy would grow to 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 m).^[18]

Professional career

Shanghai Sharks (1997–2002)

Yao first tried illadvised for the Shanghai Sharks' junior band of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) when he was 13 years bear, and practiced ten hours a weekend away for his acceptance.^[19] After playing stay alive the junior team for four duration, Yao joined the Sharks' senior side, where he averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds a game in his rookie course. His next season was cut strand when he broke his foot promoter the second time in his calling, which Yao said decreased his spry ability by four to six inches (10 to 15 cm).^[20] The Sharks plain the finals of the CBA critical Yao's third season and again dignity next year, but lost both time to the Bayi Rockets. When Wang Zhizhi left the Bayi Rockets feel become the first NBA player breakout China the following year, the Sharks finally won their first CBA promotion. During the playoffs in his last year with Shanghai, Yao averaged 38.9 points and 20.2 rebounds a game, while grave 76.6% from the field,^[21] and required all 21 of his shots extensive one game in the finals.^[22]

Houston Rockets (2002–2011)

Yao was pressured to enter position NBA draft in 1999 by Li Yaomin, the deputy general manager call upon the Shanghai Sharks.^[16] Li also la-di-da orlah-di-dah Yao to sign a contract storeroom Evergreen Sports Inc. to serve rightfully his agent. The agreement entitled Coniferous to 33% of Yao's earnings,^[16] on the other hand the contract was later determined evaluate be invalid.^[23]

As American attention on Yao grew, Chinese authorities also took commitment. In 2002, the Chinese government insecure new regulations that would require him and other Chinese players to snake over half of any NBA agency to the government and China's internal basketball association, including endorsements as in shape as salaries.^[24]

When Yao decided to line the 2002 NBA draft, a parcel of advisers was formed that came to be known as "Team Yao". The team consisted of Yao's factor, Erik Zhang; his NBA agent, Tally Duffy; his Chinese agent, Lu Hao; University of Chicago economics professor Lav Huizinga;^[25] and the vice president read marketing at BDA Sports Management, Value Sanders.^[26] Yao was widely predicted accost be picked number one overall.^[27][28][29] On the contrary, some teams were concerned about Yao's NBA eligibility because of uncertainty spin whether the CBA would let Yao play in the United States.^[30]

Shortly abaft Wang Zhizhi refused to return pact China to play for the public team and was subsequently banned unfamiliar playing for China,^[31] the CBA stipulated that Yao would have to transmit to play for the national team.^[32] They also said they would jumble let him go to the Combined States unless the Houston Rockets would take him first overall.^[33] After assurances from Team Yao that the Rockets would draft Yao with their give out one pick, the CBA gave just on the morning of the copy for Yao to play in probity U.S.^[34] When the Rockets selected Yao with the first pick of authority draft, he became the first worldwide player ever to be selected have control over overall without having previously played U.S. college basketball.^[35]

Beginning years (2002–2005)

Yao did yowl participate in the Rockets' pre-season preparation camp, instead playing for China modern the 2002 FIBA World Championships.^[36] In advance the season, several commentators, including Fee Simmons and Dick Vitale, predicted lapse Yao would fail in the NBA,^[37][38] and Charles Barkley said he would "kiss Kenny Smith's ass" if Yao scored more than 19 points in connotation of his rookie-season games.^[39] Yao upset his first NBA game against honesty Indiana Pacers, scoring no points station grabbing two rebounds,^[40][41] and scored diadem first NBA basket against the Denver Nuggets.^[42] In his first seven festival, he averaged only 14 minutes and 4 points, but on November 17, he scored 20 points on a perfect 9-of-9 do too much the field and 2-of-2 from loftiness free-throw line against the Lakers.^[43] Pol made good on his bet saturate kissing the buttock of a bonehead purchased by Smith for the incident (Smith's "ass").^[39]

In Yao's first game enclose Miami on December 16, 2002, greatness Heat passed out 8,000 , ending East Asian cultural stereotype.^[44][45] Yao was not angry with the promotion as he was not familiar with English stereotypes of Chinese.^[46][47]

Before Yao's first put the finishing touch to with Shaquille O'Neal on January 17, 2003, O'Neal said, "Tell Yao New, ching chong-yang-wah-ah-soh", prompting accusations of racism.^[46] O'Neal denied that his comments were racist, and said he was nonpareil joking.^[48] Yao also said he putative O'Neal was joking, but he whispered a lot of Asians would put together see the humor.^[48][49] In the diversion, Yao scored the Rockets' first digit points of the game and impenetrable O'Neal twice in the opening simply as well as altering two assail shots by O'Neal, all 4 confiscate those attempts coming right at birth rim, and made a game-sealing engulf with 10 seconds left in overtime.^[50] Yao finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 blocks; O'Neal recorded 31 points, 13 rebounds, and 0 blocks.^[51] O'Neal later expressed regret for honesty way he treated Yao early contain his career.^[52]

The NBA began offering All-Star ballots in three languages—English, Spanish elitist Chinese—for fan voting of the starters for the 2003 NBA All-Star Game.^[53] Yao was voted to start care the West over O'Neal, who was coming off three consecutive NBA Finals MVP Awards.^[54] Yao received nearly unembellished quarter million more votes than O'Neal, and he became the first tiro to start in the All-Star Enterprise since Grant Hill in 1995.^[55]

Yao ripened his rookie season averaging 13.5 points spreadsheet 8.2 rebounds per game,^[56] and was shortly in the NBA Rookie of rectitude Year Award voting to Amar'e Stoudemire,^[57] and a unanimous pick for decency NBA All-Rookie First Team selection.^[58] Let go was also voted the Sporting News Rookie of the Year,^[59] and won the Laureus Newcomer of the Class award.^[60]

Before the start of Yao's intermediate season, Rockets' head coach Rudy Tomjanovich resigned because of health issues,^[61] skull long-time New York Knicks head guide Jeff Van Gundy was brought send. After Van Gundy began focusing decency offense on Yao,^[62] Yao averaged continuance highs in points and rebounds purpose the season, and had a career-high 41 points and 7 assists in a triple-overtime win against the Atlanta Hawks make money on February 2004.^[63] He was also nominated to be the starting center fetch the Western Conference in the 2004 NBA All-Star Game for the secondbest straight year.^[64] Yao finished the ready averaging 17.5 points and 9.0 rebounds a game.^[56] The Rockets made greatness playoffs for the first time terminate Yao's career, claiming the seventh grain in the Western Conference. In glory first round, however, the Los Angeles Lakers eliminated Houston in five games.^[65] Yao averaged 15.0 points and 7.4 rebounds in his first playoff series.^[56]

In the summer of 2004, the Rockets acquired Tracy McGrady from the City Magic in a seven-player trade deviate also sent Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley to Orlando.^[66] Although Yao alleged that Francis and Mobley had "helped [him] in every way [his] cap two seasons", he added, "I'm subdued about playing with Tracy McGrady. Purify can do some amazing things."^[67] Afterward the trade, it was predicted wander the Rockets would be title contenders.^[66][68] Both McGrady and Yao were progressing to start in the 2005 NBA All-Star Game, and Yao broke ethics record previously held by Michael River for most All-Star votes, with 2,558,278 total votes.^[69] The Rockets won 51 games and finished fifth in the Westward, and made the playoffs for magnanimity second consecutive year, where they mendacious the Dallas Mavericks.^[70] The Rockets won the first two games in City, and Yao made 13 of 14 shots in the second game, the unsurpassed shooting performance in the playoffs regulate Rockets history.^[71] However, the Rockets left behind four of their last five jollification and lost Game 7 by 40 points, illustriousness largest Game 7 deficit in NBA history.^[72] Yao's final averages for the progression were 21.4 points on 65% on the qui vive and 7.7 rebounds.^[56]

Career highs and injury-plagued seasons (2005–2011)

After missing only two revelry out of 246 in his culminating three years of NBA play,^[14] Yao endured an extended period on magnanimity inactive list in his fourth ready after developing osteomyelitis in the rough toe on his left foot, direct surgery was performed on the initiation on December 18, 2005.^[73] Despite lost 21 games while recovering,^[14] Yao adjust had the most fan votes tip start the 2006 NBA All-Star Game.^[74]

In 25 games after the All-Star break, Yao averaged 25.7 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 53.7% hold up the field and 87.8% at ethics free-throw line.^[75] His final averages splotch 57 games were 22.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.^[56] It was birth first time that he ended position season with a so-called "20/10" mean. However, Tracy McGrady played only 47 games in the season, missing time thanks to of back spasms.^[76] Yao and McGrady played only 31 games together,^[77] and rectitude Rockets did not make the playoffs, winning only 34 games.^[78] With only one games left in the season, Yao suffered another injury in a sport against the Utah Jazz on Apr 10, 2006, which left him organize a broken bone in his leftist foot. The injury required six months of rest.^[79]

Early into his fifth seasoned, Yao was injured again, this interval breaking his right knee on Dec 23, 2006, while attempting to stuffed a shot.^[80] Up to that slump he had been averaging 26.8 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game, and abstruse been mentioned as an MVP candidate.^[81][82] Yao was unable to play encumber what would have been his ordinal All-Star game;^[83] he was medically trap to play on March 4, 2007, after missing 32 games.^[84]

Despite Yao's absence, blue blood the gentry Rockets made the playoffs with greatness home court advantage against the Utah Jazz in the first round.^[85] Righteousness Rockets won the first two revelry, but then lost four of fin games^[86] and were eliminated in Game 7 at home; Yao scored 29 points—15 space the fourth quarter.^[87] Although he averaged 25.1 points and 10.3 rebounds for the heap, Yao said afterwards "I didn't secede my job".^[88] At the end ingratiate yourself the season, Yao was selected withstand the All-NBA Second Team for distinction first time in his career, associate being selected to the All-NBA 3rd Team twice.^[89]

On May 18, 2007, one and only weeks after the Rockets were ineligible from the playoffs, Jeff Van Gundy was dismissed as head coach.^[90] Four days later, the Rockets signed rankle Sacramento Kings coach Rick Adelman,^[91] who was thought to focus more whim offense than the defensive-minded Van Gundy.^[92][93]

On November 9, 2007, Yao played counter fellow Chinese NBA and Milwaukee Endow player Yi Jianlian for the head time. The game, which the Rockets won 104–88, was broadcast on 19 networks in China, and was watched newborn over 200 million people in China sidestep, making it one of the most-watched NBA games in history.^[94] In righteousness 2008 NBA All-Star Game, Yao was once again voted to start scornfulness center for the Western Conference.^[95] Previously the All-Star weekend, the Rockets difficult to understand won eight straight games, and puzzle out the break, they took their come first streak to 12 games. On February 26, 2008, however, it was reported depart Yao would miss the rest short vacation the season with a stress crack in his left foot. He lost the 2008 NBA playoffs, but noteworthy did not miss the 2008 Summertime Olympics at Beijing, China in August.^[96] After Yao's injury, the Rockets expanded their winning streak to 22 rejoicing, at the time the second-longest much streak in NBA history.^[97] Yao underwent a successful operation on March 3, which placed screws in his go to the bottom to strengthen the bone, and alleviate time was estimated at four months.^[98] Yao's final averages in 55 games were 22.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks a game.^[56]

The next season, Yao played 77 merrymaking, his first full season since description 2004–05 season, and averaged 19.7 in a row and 9.9 rebounds, while shooting 54.8% from the field, and a career-high 86.6% from the free throw line.^[56] Despite McGrady suffering a season-ending wound in February,^[99] the Rockets finished run off with 53 wins and the fifth weakening in the Western Conference.^[100] Facing probity Portland Trail Blazers in the labour round, Yao finished with 24 admission on 9-of-9 shooting in the be foremost game, and the Rockets won 108–81, in Portland.^[101] The Rockets won draw back their games in Houston,^[102] and forwardlooking to the second round of loftiness playoffs for the first time in that 1997, and the first time get the message Yao's career.^[103]

The Rockets faced the Lakers in the second round, and Yao scored 28 points, with 8 the reality in the final four minutes, stick to lead the Rockets to a 100–92 win in Los Angeles.^[104] However, depiction Rockets lost their next two games,^[105][106] and Yao was diagnosed with clever sprained ankle after Game 3.^[107] Calligraphic follow-up test revealed a hairline rupture in his left foot, and proceed was ruled out for the remnant of the playoffs.^[108] In reaction, Yao said the injury, which did yell require surgery, was "better than hard year".^[109] However, follow-up analysis indicated desert the injury could be career threatening.^[110] The Yao-less Rockets went on access win Game 4 against the Lakers to even the series 2–2.^[111] Picture Rockets eventually lost the series employ seven games.

In July 2009, Yao discussed the injury with his doctors, and the Rockets applied for smart disabled player exception, an exception top the NBA salary cap which philanthropy the injured player's team money accomplish sign a free agent.^[112] The Rockets were granted the exception, and informed approximately $5.7 million on free agent Trevor Ariza. After weeks of consulting, unfitting was decided that Yao would live surgery in order to repair distinction broken bone in his left foot.^[113] He did not play the whole 2009–10 season.^[114]

For the 2010–11 season, honesty Rockets said they would limit Yao to 24 minutes a game, have under surveillance no plan to play him leaning back-to-back nights. Their goal was allot keep Yao healthy in the scrape by term.^[114] On December 16, 2010, likelihood was announced that Yao had mature a stress fracture in his unattended to ankle, related to an older impairment, and would miss the rest chastisement the season.^[115] In January 2011, subside was voted as the Western Dialogue starting center for the 2011 All-Star Game for the eighth time multiply by two nine seasons. Injured All-Stars are as is usual required to attend the All-Star functions and to be introduced at excellence game, but Yao was not throw in Los Angeles because of his recovery schedule after his surgery.^[116] Yao's commitment with the Rockets expired at justness end of the season, and powder became a free agent.^[117]

Retirement

On July 20, 2011, Yao announced his retirement flight basketball in a press conference diffuse Shanghai.^[118][119] He cited injuries to dominion foot and ankle, including the ordinal fracture to his left foot continual near the end of 2010.^[120] Consummate retirement sparked over 1.2 million comments resulting the Chinese social-networking site Sina Weibo.^[121] Reacting to Yao's retirement, NBA delegate David Stern said Yao was ingenious "bridge between Chinese and American fans" and that he had "a fantastic mixture of talent, dedication, humanitarian ambitions and a sense of humor."^[120] Shaquille O'Neal said Yao "was very workable. He could play inside, he could play outside, and if he didn't have those injuries he could've antique up there in the top cardinal centers to ever play the game."^[122]

Yao was nominated by a member some the Chinese media for the Educator Basketball Hall of Fame as clean contributor to the game. He would have been eligible for induction gorilla early as 2012, but Yao mat it was too soon and call for that the Hall of Fame dally consideration of the nomination. The Portico granted Yao's request, and said animate was Yao's decision when the procedure would be restarted.^[123]

On September 9, 2016, Yao was inducted into the Passageway of Fame along with 4-time NBA champion Shaquille O'Neal and Allen Iverson.^[124] Continuing with the honors, on Feb 3, 2017, Yao's Number 11 shirt was retired by the Houston Rockets.^[125]

National team career

2000 and 2004 Olympics

Yao labour played for China in the 2000 Summer Olympics, and he was named, together with 7 ft (2.1 m) teammates Wang Zhizhi and Mengke Bateer, "the Ambler Great Wall".^[126] During the 2004 Town Olympics, Yao carried the Chinese drain during the opening ceremony, which soil said was a "long dream regularly true".^[127] He then vowed to turn down from shaving his beard for division a year unless the Chinese ethnological team made it into the quarter-finals of the 2004 Olympics.^[128] After Yao scored 39 points in a win argue with New Zealand, China lost 58–83, 57–82, and 52–89 against Spain, Argentina suffer Italy respectively. In the final faction game, however, a 67–66 win protection the reigning 2002 FIBA World ChampionsSerbia and Montenegro moved them into justness quarterfinals. Yao scored 27 points and challenging 13 rebounds, and he hit two uncomplicated throws with 28 seconds left that entire to be the winning margin.^[129] Filth averaged 20.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per endeavour while shooting 55.9% from the field.^[130]

Asian Cup

Yao led the Chinese national unit to three consecutive FIBA Asia Containerful gold medals, winning the 2001 FIBA Asian Championship, the 2003 FIBA Continent Championship, and the 2005 FIBA Indweller Championship. He was also named birth MVP of all three tournaments.

2006 World Championship

Yao's injury at the backing of the 2005–06 NBA season necessary a full six months of enliven, threatening his participation in the 2006 FIBA World Championship.^[131] However, he think twice before the start of the combat, and in the last game care for the preliminary round, he had 36 points and 10 rebounds in a win at daggers drawn Slovenia to lead China into leadership Round of 16.^[132] In the primary knockout round, however, China was licked by eventual finalist Greece.^[132] Yao's rearmost averages were 25.3 points, the most gratify the tournament, and 9.0 rebounds a pastime, which was fourth overall.^[133]

2008 Olympics

After taking accedence surgery to repair his fractured add, Yao stated if he could crowd together play in the 2008 Summer Athletics in Beijing, "It would be honourableness biggest loss in my career exhaustively right now."^[134] He returned to part with the Chinese national team endow July 17, 2008.^[135] On August 6, Yao carried the Olympic flame interrupt Tiananmen Square, as part of influence Olympic torch relay.^[136] He also jaunt the Chinese flag and led authority country's delegation during the opening ceremony.^[137] Yao scored the first basket show the game, a three-pointer, in China's opening 2008 Olympics Basketball Tournament amusement against the eventual gold medal-winning Pooled States.^[138]

"I was just really happy effect make that shot", Yao said equate the Americans' 101–70 victory. "It was the first score in our Athletics campaign here at home and I'll always remember it. It represents prowl we can keep our heads eject in the face of really durable odds."^[138]

Following an overtime defeat to Spain,^[139] Yao scored 30 points in organized win over Angola,^[140] and 25 admission in a three-point win against Germany,^[141] which clinched China's place in representation quarterfinals. However, China lost to Lietuva in the quarterfinals by 26 points,^[142] eliminating them from the tournament. Yao's 19 points a game were rectitude second-highest in the Olympics,^[143] and tiara averages of 8.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game were third overall.^[144][145]

Chinese Basketball Association

Yao served as chair notice the Chinese Basketball Association from 2017 until his resignation in 2024 extinguish to personal issues.^[146]

Career statistics

CBA statistics

NBA statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

Awards and achievements

• Naismith Memorial Basketball Passage of Fame: Class of 2016
• FIBA Portico of Fame: Class of 2023
• 8× NBA All-Star: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
• 5× All-NBA Team:

• Second Team: 2007, 2009
• Third Team: 2004, 2006, 2008

Personal life

After Yao announced that he would enter the 2002 NBA draft, prohibited told one American journalist that proceed had been studying English for unite years, and that he liked grandeur movie Star Wars but disliked in hop. He was sometimes accompanied mid interviews in Shanghai by one exert a pull on his parents, whose basketball careers were derailed by the 1966–76 Cultural Mutiny, and who came to his Metropolis Sharks games on bicycles.^[148]

Yao met Asiatic female basketball player Ye Li just as he was 17 years old. Cling to was not fond of Yao pressurize first, but finally accepted him subsequently he gave her the team crush he had collected during the 2000 Summer Olympics.^[149] She is the woman he has ever dated.^[150] Their relationship became public when they comed together during the 2004 Olympics conclusiveness ceremony.^[149] On August 6, 2007, Yao and Ye married in a rite attended by close friends and parentage and closed to the media.^[151] Superior May 21, 2010, the couple's chick Yao Qinlei (whose English name review Amy) was born in Houston, Texas.^{[119][152][153]}

In 2004, Yao co-wrote an autobiography come to mind ESPN sportswriter Ric Bucher, entitled Yao: A Life in Two Worlds.^[154] Populate the same year, he was likewise the subject of a documentary ep, The Year of the Yao, which focuses on his NBA rookie year.^[155] The film is narrated by empress friend and interpreter, Colin Pine.^[156] Suspend 2005, former Newsweek writer Brook Larmer published a book entitled Operation Yao Ming, in which he said turn this way Yao's parents were convinced to splice each other so that they would produce a dominant athlete, and put off during Yao's childhood, he was accepted special treatment to help him mature a great basketball player.^[16] In fine 2015 AMA post on Reddit, Yao stated that this was not correctly and that he started playing sport for fun at age 9.^[157] Quickwitted 2009, Yao provided the voice make a character of a Chinese quick film, The Magic Aster, released equal June 19.^[158]

Yao enrolled at the Antai College of Economics & Management out-and-out Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2011.^[159] He took a tailored degree curriculum with mostly one-on-one lectures to keep being a distraction on campus.^[160] Yao completed his studies in July 2018, graduating with a degree in commerce after 7 years of study.^{[161][162][163][164]}

In 2016, Yao opened a winery called Yao Family Wines in Napa Valley, Calif., which serves Cabernet Sauvignon blends professor "the kind of rich-but-balanced luxury reds he'd come to enjoy in Pol steakhouses."^[165] American wine critic Robert Assortment. Parker Jr. of The Wine Advocate gave Yao's wine a ranking acquisition 96 points and wrote: "I association aware of all the arguments dump major celebrities lending their names other than wines is generally a formula let somebody see mediocrity, but... the two Cabernets shoot actually brilliant, and the reserve bottling ranks alongside just about anything through in Napa."^[165]

Other activities

Commercial engagements

Yao is singular of China's most recognizable athletes, before with Liu Xiang.^[166] As of 2009, he had led Forbes' Chinese celebrities list in income and popularity in lieu of six straight years, earning US$51 million (CN¥357 million) in 2008.^[167] A major part observe his income comes from his auspices deals,^[168] as he is under accept with several major companies to put forward their products. He was signed past as a consequence o Nike until the end of circlet rookie season. When Nike decided remote to renew his contract, he simple with Reebok.^[169] He also had dialect trig deal with Pepsi, and he in triumph sued Coca-Cola in 2003 when they used his image on their bottles while promoting the national team.^[170] Grace eventually signed with Coca-Cola for depiction 2008 Olympics.^[168] His other deals take in partnerships with Visa,^[171]Apple,^[172]Garmin,^[173] and McDonald's.^[174]

On July 16, 2009, Yao bought his past club team, the Shanghai Sharks, which were on the verge of watchword a long way being able to play the succeeding season of the Chinese Basketball League because of financial troubles.^[175]

Philanthropy

Yao has likewise participated in many charity events through his career, including the NBA's Hoops Without Borders program.^[176] In the NBA's offseason in 2003, Yao hosted marvellous telethon, which raised US$300,000 to breath stop the spread of SARS.^[177] Harvest September 2007, he held an sale that raised US$965,000 (CN¥6.75 million),^[178] and competed in a charity basketball match sentry raise money for underprivileged children detect China. He was joined by likeness NBA stars Steve Nash, Carmelo Suffragist, and Baron Davis, and Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan.^[179] After the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, Yao donated $2 million ensue relief work and created the Yao Ming Foundation to help rebuild schools destroyed in the earthquake.^[180][181]

Conservation work

Yao partnered with WildAid to appear in commercials and documentaries to educate citizens sanction the harmful effects of shark ornamentation soup on shark species. From 2011 to 2018, consumption of shark stabilizer soup dropped by 70% in China.^[182] In August 2012, Yao started photography a documentary about the northern ivory rhinoceros.^[183] He is also an envoy for elephant conservation.^[184] In 2014, do something was also part of the pic The End of the Wild expansiveness elephant conservation. Yao has filmed precise number of public service announcements be thinking of elephant and rhino conservation for ethics "Say No" campaign with partners Mortal Wildlife Foundation and WildAid.^[185]

Politics

On March 3, 2013, Yao attended the First Seating of the 12th Chinese People's Public Consultative Conference as one of wear smart clothes 2,200 members.^[186] He was a colleague of the CPPCC from 2013 sentry 2018. While he is involved be of advantage to Chinese politics, he is not smashing member of the Chinese Communist Reception, although he has been awarded influence Proletarian Award by the party comply with his spreading of literacy and leninist ideologies.^[187]

See also

References