Why yao ming retires

Ganis said Yao became an iconic symbol of China's growth and status. He carried the Olympic torch through Tiananmen Square and proudly carried his country's flag during the opening ceremonies in Beijing in Yao was already a larger-than-life national hero in China when he joined the Rockets. He played for the Chinese national team in the six summers before he joined the NBA. Skeptics doubted Yao was ready for the league, but he made the All-Rookie team after averaging He was the only rookie to lead his team in both rebounds and blocks, and the only rookie to rank in the top 20 in three statistical categories.

Yao helped the Rockets reach the playoffs in the next two seasons. Houston acquired versatile star Tracy McGrady before the season, and the franchise envisioned the duo as the cornerstones of a championship team. The Rockets lost first-round series in seven games in both and Yao and McGrady both started encountering injury problems in the seasons that followed.

Yao played in 77 games in the season and with McGrady sidelined, helped Houston reach the second round of the playoffs for the first time since But Yao broke his left foot in a postseason game against the Lakers and underwent complex surgery that sidelined him for the entire season.

He lasted only five games at the start of the season before breaking his left ankle. He underwent surgery in January, and was lost for the season again. Yao, who turns 31 in September, missed a total of regular-season games over the past six seasons due mostly to injuries to his left foot and leg. The Rockets missed the playoffs for the second straight season in , parted ways with coach Rick Adelman and hired Kevin McHale. McHale said Yao's future with the team was contingent on his health.

The casual fans that Jordan brought to the NBA, when he retired, they simply disappeared. But the numbers the NBA attracted, in Yao Ming's heyday, will never be reached again -- unless there's another Yao Ming around the corner. Skip to main content Skip to navigation.

Reports: Rockets' Yao retiring after 9 seasons. Houston Rockets. Tua helps Dolphins to win after Brissett injured. Miami Dolphins. Four players ejected after Gobert, Turner tussle. Utah Jazz. Tiger needs to play well to return, Thomas says. Ruggs' lawyers: Witness says firefighting slow. Las Vegas Raiders. Yao Ming Photo: IC. Yao Ming's No. As his No. These tributes are well deserved, not only because of Yao's prowess as a player, but also because of his role in bringing the NBA to China.

Yang explained that the year Yao was selected into the NBA, was the same year he first began playing basketball in junior high school. Cultural icon Already centimeters tall in junior high school, Yang was taller than any of his peers and so was therefore asked to play center.

Every time there was a Rockets game, all the boys in my class would turn it on behind the teacher's back to watch the Yao live during our one-hour afternoon break," Yang recalled.

The excitement Yang showed talking about Yao was palpable. For him, Yao is closely tied to his beautiful memories of youth.

By Greg Stutchbury. The towering year-old had been plagued by foot and ankle injuries toward the end of his eight seasons in the National Basketball Association, playing just five games in the past two seasons for the Houston Rockets. Yao said he had been steeling himself for this day and thanked his family and friends for helping him handle the decision to stop playing. It has led me to a bigger and brighter stage to showcase my abilities. Yao, who had been widely expected to retire after telling the Rockets he would not be returning, said persistent foot injuries had forced him to retire.

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