Yao Ming

Yao Ming ：a Respectable Player Former Houston Rockets center Yao Ming has been elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for his role to help spread the NBA’s popularity to China. The Basketball Hall of Fame said that Yao Ming, who is from China, had made people have a further understanding of global basketball as a respectable player and ambassador of the game. The 2.26-meter-tall basketball player started his career with the Shanghai Sharks in the Chinese Basketball Association. As the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft, Yao made a dramatic and celebrated entrance into the league. He rapidly developed into a dominant force. However, ankle and foot injuries shortened his career. Yao retired in 2011. During his eight seasons in the league, Yao averaged 19 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. He was twice voted to the All-NBA second team and three times made the All-NBA third team. Along with Yao Ming, Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson and Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo were elected to the Hall of Fame. “The Class of 2016 is big in stature, personality and impact,” said Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Board. “These stars have each contributed to the game in their own meaningful way and we are very pleased to honor them.” The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an American history museum and hall of fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts. It serves as the sport’s most complete library, in addition to promoting and preserving the history of basketball. In memory of Canadian doctor and inventor of the sport James Naismith, it was opened, and started its first class in 1959. So far, the Hall of Fame has honored 354 stars and 11 teams.