Yao Ming is a professional basketball player from Shanghai, China. He was one of the first Chinese players to ever play in the NBA or National Basketball Association. With a height of 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m), he was the tallest of player in the NBA.

Yao was selected by the Houston Rockets as the first overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft. Yao has since been selected to start for the Western Conference in the NBA All-Star Game eight times, and has been named to the All-NBA Team five times. However, injuries have prevented him from competing in each of past six seasons.

The 7-foot-6 center is scheduled to announce on July 20 2011 his retirement from the NBA after nine seasons because of leg and foot injuries.