Yao Ming

Yao Ming (born September 12, 1980) is a Chinese basketball executive and former professional player. He played for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Yao was selected to start for the Western Conference in the NBA All-Star Game eight times and was named to the All-NBA Team five times. During his final season, he was the tallest active player in the NBA, standing at 2.29 meters (7 feet 6 inches). Yao started playing for the Sharks as a teenager and played on their senior team for five years, winning a championship in his final year. He was selected as the first overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft by the Rockets.